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Onur Çoban

DIALOGUE: Maria Eugenia Diego | Flower Artist



We talked about her work and production practice with floral artist Maria Eugenia Diego, who develops large-scale installations, set design, and plant-based experiences to rethink traditions and concepts from a contemporary perspective.


Who is Maria Eugenia Diego? Can you briefly tell us about yourself?

I am a very active and curious person, passionate about plants and other natural beings, and how we all interact with each other. I am also interested in design and contemporary ways of expression, and for the past 3 years, I have been pushing my own project to tell my vision through my tools and knowledge.

After studying Architecture at Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, how did you enter the world of floral design, and how did your interest in this field begin? How would you describe your unique art practice?

After working as an architect for various offices and retail companies for 5 years, I felt the need for a change and a breath of fresh air. At that time, I was quite open to exploring new fields, and by chance, I ended up accepting a job at the flower shop of LOEWE. I wanted to distance myself from computer tasks and getting to know floristry was an amazing journey. It showed me a lot about the bonds between beings that we're not used to.
 

"Plants are incredible not only for their beauty, but also for their survival strategies. Discovering these magical parts of our surroundings made me think beyond myself."

 

Can you tell us about your project KOKON, which offers a new dialog between the fascinating world of plants and human beings?

KOKON was born as a project that brings together Nature and Space, going beyond decorative features. I apply composition, harmony, and balanced construction from my architecture knowledge to flower design. I aim for beauty and a powerful connection with the audience to draw attention and reflection about plants and flowers, so I can share my passion beyond my own experience. KOKON develops projects of different scales, from small unconventional compositions to spatial installations. Furthermore, we organize flower workshops and collaborations with artists from other fields.

As a floral artist, you produce works that are not very permanent and have a limited lifespan due to the material used. How does this limitation cause you to adopt an approach when creating your designs?

The ephemeral nature of working with flowers is both a challenge and an excitement, and it also brings a sense of reality to my work. Real life involves the rise and fall of beauty and youth, and working with these living beings reminds me of this fact every day. Additionally, this limited lifespan has led me to consider the difference between two different forms of plant expression: fresh flowers and dried flowers or fibers. Depending on the project or feeling I want to convey, I choose one or the other. A significant part of my work involves accepting and letting go of certain artworks. The positive aspect of this is that I don't accumulate too much in my studio.