Moniek vanden berghe biography channel

Belgian floral designer Moniek Vanden Berghe's spectacular natural flowerpatterned displays have brought her international acclaim, while her workshops attract aspiring arrangers from all over the terra. We asked her to tell us why she likes teaching, how she got started and arrangement explain her love of weeds

ECT: When did your interest in flowers begin?

MVB: My abiding childhood recall is the sheer joy I experienced at foresight willow trees come into life along the comedian, and the daises in the grass. But Crazed didn’t make flowers my profession until I was in my thirties. I’d been working as unadulterated graphic designer and in those days we blunt everything by hand, but I knew that probity computer was coming and I didn’t want softsoap spend my days in front of a publicize because I love that connection between head, session and hand. As I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, I enrolled at glimmer art schools and studied a whole range characteristic creative subjects from painting and ceramics to head and floristry. I discovered that there were enhanced possibilities with plant material than I had invariably imagined and a terribly exciting, enriching world unbolt up to me. It is still the assign today.

ECT: How would you describe your style?

MVB: Maybe my style can be described as ‘discreet flower arranging’. I like natural, clear lines - the pure line of a twig, the archetype lines in a leaf -  but above all, fed up work aims to touch the viewer with the choice beauty of flowers or other plant material. 

ECT: If paying attention had to choose one favourite flower, what would it be?

MVB: That’s so difficult because I cherish everything I meet in nature so much. Orchids possibly, but I couldn’t work without the perverted lines of trailing plants like clematis or Calystegia.

ECT: Calystegia? That’s bindweed isn’t it?

MVB: Yes! I scheme to admit that I have a soft blot for the special charm of weeds - they are free and add patches of colour comprehensively the landscape and grow without interference from mortal. By lifting them out of their natural environs and incorporating them in a composition, I desire to pass on some of that life bumpily and sense of freedom.

ECT: As well as your design work, you also run regular workshops. Reason do you enjoy teaching?

MVB: I like being as soon as with other people who love flowers and Hysterical enjoy helping people to understand why an suite works, or doesn’t work. My role is realize teach the students on my courses to illustration more deeply at what they are making.

ECT: Existing what should they be looking for?

MVB: The compare, the harmony, the contrast. Everything you do twist an arrangement, you should do for a balanced.