It all started over a cup of coffee.
In what seemed like an ordinary meeting, I sat down with my dear colleague and fellow florist, Florentina Drăghici from Atelier Floricica, who shared with me an exciting yet daunting challenge: she had been invited to take part in one of Romania’s major floral festivals and wanted me to join her on this journey. The spark was instant. Together, we began shaping the concept for a floral installation that would go far beyond the conventional — one that would speak to both the soul and the imagination.
The inspiration? Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy is a literary masterpiece that traces a soul’s journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise.
What started as a casual chat turned into a five-hour brainstorming session overflowing with passion, ideas, and a creative fire we could barely contain. By the end of that meeting, the foundation had been laid for one of the most ambitious projects we’d ever attempted. Florentina then gathered a team of dedicated florists who believed in the vision and were ready to bring it to life.
The journey that followed was as intense and layered as Dante’s own. It was filled with challenges, obstacles, and moments of doubt — but also with purpose, joy, and unshakable determination. And in the end, we did it. Together, we gave shape to something truly extraordinary.
A Monumental Floral Installation
Unveiled during the West Side Flower Fest 2025 edition in Bucharest, the installation reached 3 meters in height and featured three symbolic arches — each representing one of the realms from Dante’s Divine Comedy: Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. The arches were placed in a triangle shape; in the middle, the visitors could find a constructed tree that symbolized a portal through which they could “travel” through the realms. This was not just an artistic display — it was a floral interpretation of one of literature’s most profound spiritual journeys.
The Arch of Hell: A Fiery Descent
The first arch, representing Hell, stood tall and imposing at 3 meters in height. Built as a dramatic half-circle, it featured nine circular nests woven from Salix contorta and Corylus, each one symbolizing one of Dante’s nine circles of Hell.
These circles were filled with a fiery mix of red and crimson blooms, carefully chosen for their shape, color, and texture. The flowers included were Rosa, Anthurium, Leucadendron, died Asparagus, Heliconia and black waxed bulbs that were hanging from the arch— all selected for their dramatic appearance and fiery tones. To deepen the “infernal” atmosphere, the arrangement was accented with Cordyline Black Tie foliage, whose rich, dark leaves added shadow and depth.
The first arch captured Dante’s Inferno with fiery colors and bold textures, creating an intense, emotional space that pulled the visitators right in.
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The Arch of Purgatorium: A Path of Transformation
The second arch embodied change and upward motion. Created mostly using the kokedama technique, the arch was filled with beautiful lush plants and rich variety of greenery and moss. This living, breathing piece was a reflection of transition — neither infernal nor divine, but somewhere in between. Some of the amazing plants used were: Guzmania, Tillandsia cyanea, Vanda orchid, Tradescantia, Lavandula and plenty of green flatmoss.
Subtly embedded within the design were the three symbolic steps from Dante’s Purgatorio: confession, repentance, and purification. The structure overflowed with organic texture, flowing movement, and gentle earth tones. It invited viewers to pause and reflect — to feel the progression from struggle to hope.
The Arch of Paradise: Lightness and Grace
The final arch represented the sublime Paradise in all its celestial clarity. Made from nine transparent plexiglass circles, each symbolizing the nine celestial spheres of Heaven, the structure held test tubes filled with delicate flowers like Phalaenopsis, Delphinium, Campanula, Craspedia, Lisiantus, Nerine, died Asparagus, all in soft pastels of pink, blue, lavander and a touch of yellow.
The transparent materials and floating floral elements created an almost otherworldly feeling. It was an airy, luminous, and serene space, where everything felt pure and harmonious — a fitting representation of Dante’s vision of the divine.
A Celebration of Creativity and Collaboration
What made this installation truly special was the spirit of collaboration behind it. From concept to execution, every step was powered by passion, trust, and teamwork. Despite the many challenges — technical, physical, and emotional — we stayed the course. We learned, adapted, and supported one another every step of the way. The project was beautifully coordinated by Florentina Draghici from Atelier Floricica, with whom I had the joy of co-creating the concept behind this installation. What followed was a true team effort, where every member brought their talent, time, and heart into making this piece a reality.
I’m incredibly grateful to have worked with an extraordinary group of inspiring florists:
- @florentina.draghicihalapciuc
- @atelierfloricica
- @aromaflwrs
- @ralucaanitei
- @karrapetz_
- @craftforjoy
- @andreea.flor
- @ana.grigoras_emc
Photo credit: @andreeacimpoeru
Floristry as Storytelling
By transforming The Divine Comedy into a large-scale floral experience, we not only honored a literary classic — we proved that floristry is capable of deep storytelling. Flowers are more than decoration; they are symbols, characters, and emotions made visible.
Our installation invited people to walk through Dante’s journey — to feel, reflect, and connect. It was a journey not just through Dante’s imagination, but through the possibilities of what floristry can be.
