The sparkle of a million begonias: Brussels wonderful Flowercarpet
Too often our media is focused on the catastrophes that we humans create. Whether it’s war or global warming; ethnic strive or indifference to the suffering of other creatures. Lost in that constant drone of unhappiness is uplifting scenes and moments like the event pictured here.
Beginning in the early 1970s and now done every two years, with the last installation in 2008, the Brussels Flowercarpet is an act of purposeful beauty as opposed to senseless destruction. Made up of one-million begonias along with a scattering of grass and bark chips it draws tens of thousands of admirers for a three-day period, who delight in this brilliant array of colors.
The creation of this biennial ”flowercarpet” grows out of plan that is executed in several stages. The actual work starts a year in advance, with a variety of scale models all of which illustrate a particular theme. Once the theme has been settled upon then the number of flowers and color combinations are carefully calculated and the outlines finally drawn for their placement on the ancient cobblestone plaza. After all the careful planning the work of bringing the design to life, begins. This gigantic floral work, the creation of a hundred skilled gardeners, is assembled in less than four hours.
Why the rush? It’s simple. Although this magnificent work appears to have sprung from the rich Belgian soil, it is merely the illusion of a garden. In actuality these nearly one-million begonias are cut flowers that will remain fresh for three days as they lay upon the old stone of this historic and picture-perfect square and then simply wither away.
Naturally, while this work is one of the world’s more breathtaking examples of humanity’s ability to create beauty. There are thousands of other examples where ordinary streetscapes are turned into works of art. From the imaginative use of roses in Pasadena’s annual parade of roses, to the stunning works of artists working with color chalks to create hundreds of “street painting” festivals across America and around the world.
All of this done for a day, two, or three, and then washed away as our streets return to their normally busy, and highly-trafficked selves. But in those hours, as we gather to witness and celebrate senseless works of beauty, we also celebrate the creative spirit within all of us. And however we express our own love of beauty, whether as a small patch of a garden, the quick sketch of a landscape, or just our wearing of a warm and loving smile; it draws us closer together in a communion honoring all things beautiful.
Certainly the flowercarpets of Brussels is one such celebration. The harsh ugliness of our world will undoubtedly be with us for a longtime to come. But we should not forget as we look out across a troubled world that this can be a place of great beauty. Beauty created by nature and beauty created by all the children of nature.
The fourteenth installation of Brussels magnificent flowercarpet will occur at the Grand-Place of Brussels during the weekend of August 13th to the 15th, 2010. You can get a panoramic view, not to mention your own photos and videos of the work, from the outdoor balcony of Brussels City Hall, which is open to the public each day at 9:00 am and runs until 11:00 pm.
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