Spring has officially sprung, and our much-loved David Jones Spring Flower Show is in full bloom at our Elizabeth St store.
Held over a spectacular 11 days, this year’s Spring Flower Show spotlights 7 of the most innovative and visionary floral artists from Sydney. These visionary floral artists have transformed our Elizabeth St store, both inside and out, into an experiential gallery of floral splendour.
Celebrating our 185th year, the 2023 David Jones Spring Flower Show pays homage to the continuing creativity and joy that the Flower Show has brought our Australian audiences. The tradition of the Spring Flower Show first began in the 1920s, when David Jones staff would display flowers on instore counters from their own gardens to celebrate the start of Spring. This much-loved tradition evolved over decades to become a more formalised event launching as the annual David Jones Spring Flower Show in 1985.
This Year’s Floral Show In Numbers
Introducing the 7 Visionary Floral Artists of 2023
Each floral artist this year was challenged with creating unexpected installations beyond the status quo in the floral artists’ unique signature style.
Seedflora by George Low
A true icon of the industry, Malaysian-born florist, George Low of Seedflora, has been the visionary floral artist to the most prestigious events both Nationally and Internationally. George has created incredible and unforgettable event installations across his expansive career and this year celebrates his 35th David Jones Spring Flower Show. For each work of art they produce, Seedflora takes inspiration from the shapes and textures of the season’s most beautiful blooms, curating the arrangements using both locally sourced flowers and exotic varieties from around the world. George’s favourite flower is the Phalaenopsis orchid – a reminder of his childhood growing up in Malaysia.
“I love seeing the joy The David Jones Spring Flower Show brings to people and being part of that is very special.”
Hermetica Flowers
Hermetica Flowers is a continual exploration into the possibilities of modern floristry. Creative director, Jai Winnell, was one of the first florists in Australia to pioneer high-impact, structural compositions in gifting bouquets and event florals upon his return from his formative time in London. Hermetica are not followers; they are leaders in the industry. As a result, over the last 10 years, they have become synonymous with artistry and excellence and are trusted by some of Sydney’s top hospitality and luxury brands.
“Inspired by the past, our installation is a retrospective of the Hermetica journey and a window into our future as visionaries. We invite guests to take a step into our world and be captivated by an immersive floral experience, both on a micro and macro scale by interacting with various touchpoints. Custom stainless steel joinery and fittings reflect the DNA of our brand in the space and provide a backdrop for appreciating the finer details and abundance of scale.”
The Colourblind Florist
The Colourblind Florist is a Sydney-based design studio, founded in 2020 by creative director Benjamin Avery. Inspired by natural landscapes from above and below the ocean, Avery’s appreciation for the mysterious and the surreal is omnipresent in his work. Avery is in fact colourblind, this results in a collection of unconventional and striking colour combinations and a heavy use of form and texture that pushes the work into sculptural and playful art forms.
“Inspiration for our David Jones Spring Flower Show installation came from a playful sense of balance, gravity and joy. I’ve always looked to mountains and hiking for inspiration; balancing rocks has become a meditative challenge for me. The claw machine encourages guests to interact with the space, it challenges their perceptions of weight and balance. Visually I want the work to represent the Icelandic, New Zealand and Tasmanian wilderness, through the use of rock textures, mosses and various interesting plants.”
Bess Paddington
Established in 2018 Bess Paddington is a neighbourhood florist filled with Australian native wildflowers grown by Bess’ family on the NSW Central Coast. Bess is 5th generation in the flower industry and has trained with some of the world’s best floral designers. Bess’s family are steeped in the world of flowers: Her great-grandmother was a florist and her great-grandfather a flower grower. After spending long spans of time in the Australian bush while in the army, Bess’s grandfather developed a passion for Australian native flowers. Bess’s father kept up the passion, specialising in Australian natives on his farm – and now Bess uses those natives to create her art.
“Growing up on a flower farm paper daisies were always a highlight in spring and quickly became one of my favourite flowers. Each year my father broadens the selection of paper daises by adding new colours and varieties. For a short period, they are all consuming – blowing in the field, hanging from the roof of the shed, filling up the truck for market to now being sold in my shop”.
Acid.Flwrs
ACID.FLWRS is a fine art floral studio based in Sydney, Australia, known for creating flower designs from your wildest dreams. In a style that is globally unique, fresh-cut flowers are transformed with hyper-coloured patterns, bringing a fresh perspective to classical forms through a historical printmaking technique. Each ACID.FLWRS stem is individually coloured with a bit of science and magic to create unique pieces of ephemeral art. ACID.FLWRS inspires viewers to challenge expectations and see the world through a different lens, rippling between classical and futuristic, natural and chemical, real and surreal.
“As part of the Visionaries theme, we created a sculptural installation that presents delicate florals in a powerful and unexpected form. The individually painted flowers levitate above an industrial framework, where neon colours draw the eye into endless detail. Each stem is a unique artwork. These are flowers from the future.”
My Violet
My Violet specialises in bespoke floral designs with an ethos that focuses on colour, texture, and shape. These three fundamental visual elements are the driving forces behind My Violet’s creations, transforming each piece into an experience that appeals to the senses. With an innovative spirit and commitment to artistic integrity, My Violet steps beyond the established confines of traditional floristry.
“Present and Future – In our current reality, the concept of the present is shaped by an abundance that exists disconnected from nature…It is crucial that we recognize this impending peril and take concerted action to re-establish our harmonious relationship with the environment.”
The Make Haus
The Make Haus is a collective of dreamers and designers who create concepts that engage and inspire. They are a one-of-a-kind multidisciplinary creative studio with an innate ability to create meaningful and memorable objects, spaces and moments by offering a complete creative journey from intention to execution. Founder and designer, Dani Dean is a creative in the truest sense of the word. Imaginative, resourceful and bold, Dani has a particular talent for conceiving considered florals that are unlike anything you’ve seen.
“I wanted to ensure it was highly texturised given the fragrance of blooms might not be as evident. Additionally, the use of curvaceous and shapely patterns will add a sense of playfulness and interest to the design, making it more captivating for customers. I have selected an unconventional flower palette which is a base of muted undertones and toxic brights. Hoping this is quite mesmerising and otherworldly.”
The David Jones Spring Flower Show will be on public display at our Elizabeth St Flagship Store from Monday, 6th September – 17th September 2023.