The project Floating river from the Brazilian Wagner Kreuschlocated in Courtyard of the Columns of the Viana Palace, has won first prize at Flora, the International Flower Festival of Córdoba. The jury recognized a piece that transforms the space with a contemporary look and awarded the winner a prize of 25.000 Euros.
In the work, the water acts as the protagonist and structures a dialogue between nature, architecture and cultural memory, in line with the theme of the edition, focused on the future, and the use of aquatic plants in designThe intervention, which combines technical rigor and visual poetics, invites us to explore the courtyard from a different perspective, emphasizing how we relate to the elements and the climate.
This is 'Floating River': materials, ideas and space
The installation raises a bamboo cane structure that seems to hang over the central fountain of the courtyard, generating an undulating silhouette that dialogues with the curves of the arches of the enclosure. It is a piece of light appearance but of great solidity, where botany becomes a sort of living architecture, a close concept to aquascaping that envelops the visitor.
Along with bamboo, Kreusch incorporates aspidistras, a common plant in Cordoban patios, and alludes to the Indian technique of beehive, based on terracotta pots that refresh the environment, a principle related to the traditional can of botijoIn doing so, the work connects ancient knowledge and solutions for tomorrow.
The proposal pursues a sensory experience: the murmur of the water, the shade of the bamboo and the vegetation, including floating plants, create an environment that underlines the fragility of water resources and its essential role. The result is an immersive piece that encourages us to think about new ways of inhabiting courtyards and cities.
The jury highlighted the coherence between concept and execution, as well as the integration of the work into the site, which not only respects the heritage, but also activates it with a contemporary reading.
Second prize for 'Arbor', by Paula Anta
El second prize It has been for the Madrid artist Paula Anta for its installation Arbor, located in the Patio II of the Archaeological Museum. Recognition entails an endowment of 10.000 Euros and values an intervention that reinterprets the patio from an environmental and care perspective.
'Arbor' poses a forest arranged in an unexpected way which proposes another relationship between vegetation and architecture. Through flowers and medicinal plants, the work appeals to healing, balance and the possibility of restoring what has been lost.
Anta's piece dialogues with the space as if it were a archaeology of nature, transforming the fallen tree into a symbol of resistance and the future options that are still open.
Like the first prize, the recognition for 'Arbor' was approved unanimously, highlighting the solidity of the artistic approach and its harmony with the theme proposed by the festival.
The jury's decision, the ceremony and the trophies
The verdict was issued by a jury composed of Pablo Berástegui, Toya Legido y John Lim (This Humid House), who visited the five facilities and deliberated after speaking with the authors. The decision on the two main prizes was made unanimously.
The ceremony was held in the Orive Room with the participation of the mayor Jose Maria Bellido; Juan Ceña, by Zizai Culture; Maria Van den Eynde, general manager of Flora; and Emilio Ruiz Mateo, artistic director. The winners were presented with a trophy created for the occasion by the ceramist Luis Torres, from La Rambla.
During the event, the festival management highlighted that Flora places Cordoba in the international spotlight contemporary floral art and thanked the city, collaborators, and the public for their support, which makes the event their own every year.
Guest artists, visits and closing of the edition
In addition to Kreusch and Anta, three prestigious teams are participating: Putnam Flowers Past plots, future calm at the Patio de los Naranjos of the Mosque-Cathedral; The Muse of Flowers Garden without time at the Clock Courtyard of the Palace of La Merced; and Ikefrana Nomadic seeds at the Orive Palace.
The five facilities can be visited with free access to the October 22The festival will conclude on October 23 With the traditional Flora guerrilla In the Orive Gardens, a participatory action to close the edition.
With 'Floating River' and 'Arbor' as references, this edition of Flora reinforces the idea that the . and the plant design They can rethink the courtyards and their climate, using solutions inspired by local knowledge and innovation, always with the visitor as an active part of the experience.