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a flower carpet made up of more than 600,000 blooms lined brussels’ grand place earlier this month, arranged in a vibrant composition depicting flowers, birds, the wind and the moon. the 1,000 square meter natural mat marks the festival’s 10th edition and celebrates 150 years of belgojapanese friendship. the ephemeral tapestry draws inspiration from japanese illustrative representations of flowers, which symbolize the changing of seasons and the passage of time.

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non-profit association tapis de fleurs has brought together illustrators, graphic designers, and landscape architects to devise the composition, with each edition of the ‘flower carpet‘ illustrating a different theme. more than 100 volunteer gardeners put together the giant floral puzzle in less than four hours using hundreds of thousands of cut flowers. sited along the unesco world heritage site, the arrangement depicts both natural and animal life from japan entwined in a vibrant frame of colorful patterns and motifs. 

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photo by g.batistini

 

 

masafumi ishii, ambassador of japan to belgium, describes the illustration theme: ‘the 2016 flower carpet is showcasing nature in japanese tradition with its numerous good luck talismans: flowers, birds, the wind and the moon are symbols of the natural beauty (kacho-fugetsu); koi (japanese carps) represent strength and growth; pine trees and bamboos are signs of good omen; and the cherry blossoms, of course.’

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photo by charles lecompte 

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belgium-flower-carpet-2016-designboom-02

belgium-flower-carpet-2016-designboom-02
photo by g.batistini

belgium-flower-carpet-2016-designboom-02

belgium-flower-carpet-2016-designboom-02

belgium-flower-carpet-2016-designboom-02
photo by g.batistini

belgium-flower-carpet-2016-designboom-02
photo by g.batistini

belgium-flower-carpet-2016-designboom-02
photo by g.batistini

belgium-flower-carpet-2016-designboom-02
photo by g.batistini

belgium-flower-carpet-2016-designboom-02

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