Bouquets of love
The Musuem of Floral Culture pays tribute to mothers all over Thailand with a festival of garlands
BEAUTIFUL FLOWER garlands have long been part of the country’s national pride and this year arrangements are set to bloom with an extra special flourish.
Celebrating the auspicious occasion of Her Majesty the Queen’s seventh cycle Birthday Anniversary tomorrow, which is also National Mother’s Day, the Museum of Floral Culture is holding its third annual flower festival titled “Thai Flower Garland for Mom”.
The event, which runs until Sunday, is designed to help the public appreciate Thai culture through Thai flowers.
To educate and entertain visitors, there will be exhibitions, demonstrations and workshops to promote the art of making Thai traditional flower garlands at the museum on Samsen Road, Soi 28, Yaek Ongkarak 13.
Sakul Intakul, the founder of the museum and an internationally renowned floral artist, has served Her Majesty on many occasions and created many remarkable flower decorations. Sakul says the objective of this year’s festival is not only to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s 84th birthday anniversary and Mother’s Day, but also to organise an event which will help visitors learn the art of Thai flower garland making.
“We present the art of Thai flowers through a different perspective and design, presented in an inspiring installation,” he says.
The festival features various garlands using fresh flowers, special materials, and paper garlands by Wirin Chaowana. There is also a flower tunnel made from fresh and artificial flowers.
Also on show are flowers named after Her Majesty the Queen such as Dona Queen Sirikit, Nymphaea Queen Sirikit, and Cattleya Queen Sirikit, as well as flowers whose name is royally bestowed by Her Majesty such as Soi Suwanna, Dusita, and Manee Deva.
“The highlight, which is the landmark of this year’s festival, is a small art installations inspired by Pak Khlong Talad, one of Thailand’s biggest flower markets. This is a creative presentation using fresh flowers and garland making tools such as fresh flowers, plastic flowers, banana stalk, garland needles, wet floral foam, and scissors. They will amaze visitors,” Sakul says.
At a recent press conference, celebrity mother-daughter pair Chuanpis Thamsiri and Nadhawan Tanyongmas shared a touching story about mother-daughter love. The museum’s little ambassador Pinmukda Tongsiri together with her mother Ploykwan Sitapahul joined a garland-making workshop, led by Apirum Suansiri, an expert in Thai flower garland making.
Free floral arrangement demonstrations for visitors will held over the three days of the festival, with two sessions a day at noon to1pm and 2.30pm to 3.30pm. A fresh flower garland-making workshop led by Apirum Suansiri will also be held, with three sessions per day at 10.30am to noon, 1 to 2.30pm, and 3.30 to 5pm Registration for the workshop is Bt500.
Another workshop on paper garland making with Wirin Chaowana will be held on Saturday at 1pm and 4pm. Registration for this workshop is Bt1,200.
? Learn how to preserve Thai art and culture through flower garland at the “Thai Flower Garland for Mom” festival at the Museum of Floral Culture, from 10am to 6pm until Sunday.
? Admission is Bt150 for adults and Bt75 for children and seniors.
? For more information or| workshop reservations, |call 02-669-3833-34 or visit www.FloralMuseum.com and www.facebook.com/ TheMuseumofFloralCulture.
