Yuko Takagi about the beauty of flowers
From a European perspective, Japanese floral art means an eye for detail, subtlety, respect for materials, philosophy and a centuries-long tradition… Since globalisation, European floral art has influenced the Japanese style, but we also see a lot of Japanese influences in European floral design. Master floral artist Yuko Takagi tells us more about het passion for floral art.
It was Gabriele Kubo, the German floral artist who has lived and worked in Japan for over 30 years, who taught us the design style of Yuko Takagi over 10 years ago. Her subtle creations are composed with care and precision and bear witness to the same aesthetics you can see in traditional Ikebana art. Takagi’s designs are timeless masterpieces, which show the flowers in their essence, stripped of all frills.
Why are you so passionate about flower arranging?
That’s an easy one. Flowers are so beautiful and have so much vitality that you can’t help but love them. I don’t want it to be just about me, I want to show the beauty of the flowers. I’m just the messenger.
Where did you learn the love for the profession?
My mother really loves flowers. She still shows me how beautiful flowers are, how to handle them carefully. I think she loves flowers more than me!
What message do you want to tell the world?
I want to show the authenticity of flowers. My philosophy is to strive for beauty and to show the aesthetics of flowers. I would like to pass on this philosophy with my flower school to other floral artists and people who love flowers.
What are your favourite flowers?
I love them all. But if I had to choose… Then I choose orchids!
Read the sequel of the interview in the spring edition of Fleur Creatif.
Yuko Takagi founded and successfully runs her own floral design school and travels the world to give demonstrations and workshops. International recognition came when Takagi won several prestigious floral design contests; in 2006 Yuko Takagi deservedly won the Golden Leaf in Stichting Kunstboek’s International Annual of Floral Art 2006/2007. In 2009, she became second at the “Philadephia Flower Show” (Philadelphia, USA) in the category ‘Hanging design’.
Yuko Takagi also published her own book ‘Contemporary Floral Art’ with timeless Japanese floral art.
>>> €39,90 in the FLEUR bookshop
