Kokon, created by Spanish artist Maria Eugenia Diego creates projects of various scales, ranging from chiffon arrangements to spatial installations and set design. Furthermore, seminars, talks, and collaborations with artists from different disciplines are important aspects of what Kokon embodies and part of her company's activities. This beautiful business is about the floral designer, architect, and artist, and her crew. After working as a florist at 'Loewe Flores', she opened her own personal studio in 2020 and won first prize at the worldwide FLORA Festival back in '22. Join this week's florist special to learn more about the brilliant mind behind this Spanish floral vision and art.
Kokon - A Floral Art Business by Maria Eugenia Diego
Composition, harmony, and balanced construction were drawn from her architectural experience and adapted to floral design. Maria seeks beauty and a strong connection with her audience in order to convey presence and reflection on plants and flowers, as well as the importance of becoming aware of them in any type of composition or design.
Her project, or rather thriving blooming business explores the human connection with beauty and nature, particularly in the much-needed urban realm. The artist plays with this triad by using natural elements, whose history and botanical origins form the leitmotif of the installations, designing large-scale pieces and spaces that forge a powerful connection with the viewer. It is no coincidence that Maria Eugenia is a professional when it comes to connecting space and flora to engage in a palpable dialogue throughout her works, offering a new perspective on environments or materials that are often familiar to us, reimagined by the artist in a fresh context.
From Florist to Visionary
A year and a half as a florist at Loewe coupled with a pandemic, provided the perfect breeding ground for developing her personal vision, moving beyond the purely decorative realm of conventional floristry.
Winner of Flora Festival in 2022— an incredible floral event that takes place every year— with her installation 'Ovidio', the Kokon universe is steadily expanding with large-scale designs that enhance any outdoor or indoor setting, set designs, workshops, and botanical experiences. These efforts aim to deliver a mindful message about the constant daily disconnection of humans from the fascinating world of plants, particularly in urban settings.
The artist shares about her business:
"Kokon is a word found in several languages and translates to 'wrapping, 'capsule', or 'cocoon'. I didn’t want to constrain it because, even today, I find it hard to define myself. So, I gave it that title to place it in a space that holds things that are growing. I also wasn’t sure if flowers would always be the main material, so I didn’t want to limit myself."
Kokon Loves Creating Colossal Installations With Plants and Flowers
Maria thinks the flower world is starting to be given the recognition it deserves. On one hand, there’s the flower as a decorative element—most people see flowers as a way to make a space more beautiful. On the other hand, there’s floral art, which by definition must go beyond that. It can certainly beautify, but it also has to tell a story or make a statement.
She acknowledges that her design style is more inspired by tradition and the use of plant materials as a tool for artistic expression. Her unique vision has already captured numerous brands and events that have sought out her talent, from Springfield to Las Rozas Village in Madrid, as well as institutions like the Madrid City Council and La Casa Encendida, or artists such as Misterpiro.
She says:
"It’s a dream to be called and paid to do what I love. Plus, I love the effect it has on people when they see it. That’s why I enjoy public projects—those that anyone can witness."
Expanding Horizons - Ambitious Plans for a Global Floral Journey
Regarding her future plans, the floral artist shares her aspirations including how she would like to take on more ambitious or larger initiatives, even international ones, expressing her interest in exploring the floral cultures of other countries and continents. One thing is certain: flowers are no longer meant to stay (only) in a vase.
Interested in seeing and learning more about the artist? Visit Kokon's website!
Photos by kokon_design.
