Recreating "Story of Yanxi Palace" and "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace" with Floral Art, More Thrilling Than the Palace Intrigue Itself
Shuang Ying
Shuang Ying
A-Mei
00:00/04:36
{Peony Girl Vol.879 }
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Palace Floral Art
Recently, the traditional Chinese color palettes in the palace dramas "Story of Yanxi Palace" and "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace" have opened everyone's eyes. Traditional Chinese colors are pure without being gaudy, muted without being dirty, carrying the sense of time deposited by history, beautiful beyond compare, and they have sparked the creative urge of floral designers.
Taking "Story of Yanxi Palace" or "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace" as creative inspiration, floral designers observed, analyzed, distilled and processed these two dramas, and carried out floral creations starting from the colors in the dramas, character personalities, plot expression and many other aspects. (The following ranking is in no particular order)
01
Li Bailu
Owner of Ruyunwu, food & floral photographer, pioneering floral designer
"Borrowing the connection between flowers and all things, using flowers to narrate objects."
--Li Bailu
Floral creation source: "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace"
Ruyunwu Li Bailu floral work "Ruyi"
Deep palace, power and nobility, turmoil, rise and fall, proud backbone.
The orange-yellow palm fruits, stacked together, are like the temperament of royal wealth and honor. The red berries of elderberry have a sense of jeweled splendor.
Several winding stems of fire orchid seem to carry a touch of Ruyi's defiance. In the dark parts there are actually some crabapples in varying states of decline, and a withered branch of palm fruit on the right, which together carry the desolate sorrow of the deep palace.
02
Zhang Shuyang
Founder of Waa Flora
"Whether it is the demand for floral design or the use of floral art to express emotion, I hope to explore a deeper inner dimension to carry out floral design expression. While being a collector of content in floral art, one can also be an outputter of emotion. Wholeheartedly create a WaaFlora that makes people say 'wow' when they see it."
--Zhang Shuyang
Floral creation source: "Story of Yanxi Palace"
Taking the scene of Consort Xian, who schemes painstakingly and gradually gains power, sitting with the Emperor in front of the Hall of Mental Cultivation one night as the design inspiration, red, yellow and gold are used to express royal majesty.
Since the scene takes place at night, in order to avoid the design being too bright and vivid, red leaves and low-saturation golden fan palms are chosen to create the feeling of faint dimness late at night.
For the floral materials, conventional materials were not chosen in excess; the rather exaggerated spider lilies, gloriosa lilies and thick, linear tiger tails are interwoven with golden branches, expressing the complexity of the protagonist's inner world and the ups and downs of the plot.
03
Deng Jiyue
Founder of Peony House
"Chinese floral art must embody Chinese aesthetics: literary grace, noble grace, elegant grace."
--Deng Jiyue
Floral creation source: "Story of Yanxi Palace"
Peony House Deng Xiaobing work "Drunk Beneath the Flowers"
Inspired by the scene of Noble Consort Gao singing Kunqu opera in the palace, playing the role of the Drunken Consort Yang.
The fan palm leaves are like swaying water sleeves, the double-petaled lilies are like the noble consort's fair face, and the slightly opened calla lily is the finishing touch, like the golden wine cup held in the noble consort's mouth.
The overall composition of the work is full of dynamism, striving to imitate the noble consort's beautiful posture.
04
Li Boya
Founder of OVER BLOOM
"Art may err, but nature never makes mistakes."
--Li Boya
Floral creation source: "Story of Yanxi Palace"
Author: Xu Liang Guidance: Li Boya
Many times, one lifetime, one couple, is the simplest yet hardest wish.
Two fireworks chrysanthemums lean coldly on each other; the Chinese sweet plum is the free soul within Yingluo's heart, yet it can never reach beyond the deep palace walls.
Only this one umbrella, one embrace, is enough to sustain the long years ahead.
Floral creation source: "Story of Yanxi Palace"
Noble Consort Gao loves intensely and hates directly. The spider lilies are flamboyant and brilliant, passionately gorgeous, beautiful as fireworks blooming in the sky.
Yet however beautiful the fireworks, after their peak they ultimately return to loneliness, just like Noble Consort Gao's tragic ending in the drama.
Plum pine has an innate Chinese flavor, making the work conform to the theme from color to charm.
Floral creation source: "Story of Yanxi Palace"
Consort Xian said that Empress Fucha loved the Emperor more than freedom. Bound by countless palace rules, Fucha could love but not obtain, resent but not act, abandoned herself to love one person, and ultimately lost everything.
The work is inspired by the scene in the drama where Empress Fucha dances a piece of the Goddess of the Luo River. The plain, light colors are her character of disliking extravagance, the blooming roses are her expectations for her husband deep in her heart, and the beautiful curve of the ruscus leaf is like her gracefully fluttering water sleeves, elegant and serene; that moment was the truest and best version of her.
05
Zoe
Zoe and Her Elves founder
"To me, the joy of flower arranging is perhaps like constantly adding collectibles to an art museum I have fictionalized myself."
——Zoe
Floral creation source: "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace"
Ruyi went from being cherished and supported by Qianlong to ultimately cutting her hair and being deposed. In her heart Ruyi saw through the coldness of the imperial family, yet still never regretted loving one person for a lifetime.
Just like the porcelain plate in the work, though already broken and difficult to make whole, it still extends flowers of affection. Yet flowers bloom and fall, each in their own time.
06
Arisu
Owner of Arisu Flora flower shop
"Floral art is self-expression, and also a record of the emotion of the moment."
——Arisu
Floral creation source: "Story of Yanxi Palace"
Empress Fucha was the Emperor's white moonlight, solemn and elegant, kind and gentle, virtuous and generous.
Empress Fucha's love for Emperor Qianlong was deep and selfless; her whole life she thought of this man she loved.
A white palette was chosen to express the devotion of the character Empress Fucha in the drama.
07
Xiasheng
Founder of Yuanye Floral Studio
"Learn balance among plants."
--Xiasheng
Floral creation source: "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace"
Inspired by Ruyi in "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace." A dark-colored ceramic jar was chosen as the flower vessel, matching the heaviness of the clothes Ruyi wears.
In the character styling, a rose extending at a diagonal is used to echo her. In terms of tone, an autumn color scheme is chosen overall, using seasonal floral materials such as ping-pong chrysanthemums, small daisies and rose hips to harmonize the atmosphere of the entire poster.
Floral creation source: "Story of Yanxi Palace"
The inspiration source is the Emperor. The Emperor is low-key and reserved, so pottery similar in color to his clothes was chosen as the flower vessel, with phalaenopsis orchids and yellow chrysanthemums used as the main floral materials.
In addition to matching the colors, more consideration was given to the fact that orchids and chrysanthemums have long been known as gentlemen among flowers; a modest gentleman is as understated as a chrysanthemum, which both fits the character setting and carries a faint antique charm.
Floral creation source: "Story of Yanxi Palace"
Using Consort Shun as the design inspiration, fine, delicate small flowers were specially chosen to create a sense of lightness and relaxation in the work, like Consort Shun dancing in the wind.
Analyzing her personality, Consort Shun is kind in face but evil in heart, hiding a knife behind a smile, so although the chosen floral materials are soft and graceful, they are also angular.
For the atmosphere, blue-and-white porcelain and a wooden stand were chosen, warm and understated. It fits the texture of the palace.
08
Jingjing
Independent floral designer
"Nature always tells me what to do in the simplest way."
--Jingjing
Floral creation source: "Story of Yanxi Palace"
If you love each other, then hold hands until old age. If you miss each other, then wish him well.
Floral creation source: "Story of Yanxi Palace"
A golden sparrow hairpin on the head, green jade pendants at the waist. Pearls adorn the jade body, coral interspersed with nanmu.
Taking the character head ornament in "Story of Yanxi Palace": kingfisher feather inlay, as the design inspiration, the patterns of the kingfisher feather inlay are freely gathered from a hundred-flower garden, long and short, large and small, tender and beautiful, each showing its own charm.
The opening flower basket made with this color as inspiration interweaves lake blue and navy with various blue-purples, very unique.
09
Xiao Y
Founder of Y Jiang, co-founder of BY LAB
"Floral design is the expression of emotion."
--Xiao Y
Floral creation source: "Story of Yanxi Palace"
Xiao Y floral work "Wei Yingluo"
Wei Yingluo is the person in the whole drama most able to abandon emotion; she is a very tough person. So after finishing this work I left it until the next day to photograph; the delicate flowers had withered and faded, while the hard flowers continued to hold on, just like her personality.
I never really liked palace intrigue dramas; I only started following the drama after watching Yu Zheng's special on velvet flowers, and ended up falling into the pit. So when making this series, the first element I thought of was velvet flowers.
Floral creation source: "Story of Yanxi Palace"
Xiao Y floral work "Showdown of the Big BOSSes"
Special materials were used to make a layer of ice; the women in the palace are made of ice, cold and sharp. These two women are the final outstanding ones.
Floral creation source: "Story of Yanxi Palace"
Xiao Y floral work "Fuheng! Fuheng!"
One phrase, young master, exhausts a whole lifetime. So I built a tombstone for Fucha Fuheng.
10
Qiao
Founder of CourageFlower
"Let flowers and plants tell the story."
--Qiao
Floral creation source: "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace"
Using the clothing colors and the overall environmental atmosphere as the main reference tone to set off the pictorial feel of this poster for "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace."
11
Mr. Eight Bowls of Rice
Founder of Eight Bowls of Rice's Back Garden, co-founder of BY LAB
"The fresh and the withered both have their own beauty; grasping an interesting soul is the joy of a floral designer."
--Mr. Eight Bowls of Rice
Floral creation source: "Story of Yanxi Palace"
The palace costumes in "Story of Yanxi Palace" show the Eastern perception of form and color. A piece of fabric, through its handling of the body's shape, creates her soul. On top of this soul, make flowers that fit the temperament. Every piece of fabric has an interesting soul.
13
Kylie
Floral designer, graphic designer
Founder of Memory Forest
"When creating, be yourself, follow your heart and nature; flowers, like paintings, can show a person's state of mind at this moment."
——Kylie
Floral creation source: "Story of Yanxi Palace"
Behind the curtains alone she watches the hanging golden garlic, before the railing the flowers in vain think of the jade hairpin. High-end preserved flowers paired with a cyan vase plus rotten wood; the original intention was to use materials closer to the poster's tone for expression, without much embellishment.
Start from color, letting flowers collide with more materials of different textures.
14
Magen Zhou
Instructor at the American Floral Art Design Institute
Shanghai Angqi Cultural Creativity Co., Ltd.
MZ Florist lead designer
"Floral art is the integrated application of color, structure, materials and technique. While floral design employs technique, it should also consider how the public understands beauty. In our creations we should combine more with current popular concepts; only when the public understands the beauty of floral art can floral design touch people's hearts and go further."
——MagenZhou
Floral creation inspired by "Story of Yanxi Palace"
Work: Golden "Yan" Wind Song
Golden eaves (Yan), deep palace locks away the fair one, who alone wastes away her jade soul for the imperial word. Her face radiant, clad in sable fur, wine dissolves spring sorrow, yet loneliness is hard to voice.
Floral creation inspired by "Story of Yanxi Palace"
This work mainly uses floral materials to hint at the character's personality and ending. For example, calla lilies and tulips represent elegance, purity, intelligence and capability - that is the Virtuous Consort before her dark turn. While love-in-a-mist represents love unattained, foreshadowing her ending.
15
Yang Tou
Pioneer floral designer, crossover floral designer,
graphic designer, illustrator,
Founder of Yang Flora floral studio
"An interesting floral work should carry a certain narrative, allowing viewers to associate and imagine."
-- Yang Tou
Floral creation inspired by "Story of Yanxi Palace"
When creating this work, besides using the same Morandi color palette as "Story of Yanxi Palace," I also linked it to the plot and characters. What Wei Yingluo pursues is not power and status, but the freedom to be herself, so we used a cloud and vines representing tenacity to express her personality.
15
Myron
First Chinese floral designer at Toronto's Sweet Woodruff studio
Designated floral sponsor of the first Vancouver Golden Maple Leaf Film Festival
AIFD/CFD registered floral designer (USA), CIFD registered floral designer (Canada)
In 2017 founded LadyMyron, the largest physical floral studio in Hong Kong, China
"Kenya Hara once said: to understand a thing is not to be able to define or describe it, but to take what we think we already know, make it unknown, and stir up a fresh sense of its authenticity, thereby deepening our understanding of it. This is also my thinking on floral art."
——Myron
Floral creation inspired by "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace"
The faint sweet scent of honeysuckle, the unruly spice of chili stems, the steady woody notes of smoke-tree. The balloon flower dyed in gradient lotus-root pink is a tender glimpse among a thousand backward glances. Carved rose hairpins, a fluttering hem lifted by the wind on the city wall.
16
MIMI
Founder of Mimi Flower
"Respect every flower and let it keep its native state. Every flower has its own posture and life; there is no need to deliberately change it, just let it bloom freely."
——Mimi
Floral creation inspired by "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace"
The deep palace is glory and wealth but also a cage; marriage is a happy ending and also a beginning.
17
Carry
Co-founder of Sally Florist
"I like to observe plants growing in nature, thinking of their free-growing postures, blooming without restraint, and naturally fading. When I make flowers, I want to put all these postures from nature into floral art with my hands, so they can be a little closer to our daily lives."
——Carry
Floral creation inspired by "Story of Yanxi Palace"
The work was inspired by Empress Fuca in "Story of Yanxi Palace." I chose dark blue as the main tone, paired with deep purple dahlias, then used the contrasting color orange.
The visual contrast in the work is just like Fuca Rongyin, who by nature loved freedom; though honored as empress, she was not happy inside. Wealth and honor were nothing but emptiness to her.
18
Cat
Founder of Natural Flora
"Listen to the voice of flowers, and seek inspiration from the changing of the four seasons."
——Cat
Floral creation inspired by "Story of Yanxi Palace"
A soft and elegant pink-orange, with the steadiness of the earth yet a hint of pink shyness, warm and sweet. Like a toffee held in the mouth, silky and smooth, leaving fragrance on the lips and teeth.
The consorts used a color palette that makes people feel serene, revealing a restrained and gentle beauty.
19
Cherry
Founder of Flower Events Flower
"Flowers, grasses and trees have spirit. Each flower can independently present its most beautiful appearance, and can also be combined to show the flowers' more beautiful textures. I like floral art with more extension and full of imagination. Floral art is an art, and I have always believed that art requires talent and also more learning."
——Cherry
Floral creation inspired by "Story of Yanxi Palace"
The only drama I watched this year, "Story of Yanxi Palace" - those embroideries, kesi silk, velvet flowers, kingfisher-feather inlay - all kept my eyes fixed. I love these lovely things our ancestors left us, so I chose my favorite way to spread the beauty of this embroidery.
20
Vicky
Founder of Rachel Floral Art
"On the premise of respecting every plant, give it a different state of life; different traits combine and collide to produce different feelings."
——Vicky
Floral creation inspired by "Story of Yanxi Palace"
The Pure Consort turns dark inside beneath a fresh surface. So the higher part of the work uses light colors, and the lower dark part uses dark floral materials.
Floral creation inspired by "Story of Yanxi Palace"
Dark color blocks and bright color blocks are used to express Wei Yingluo's inner clarity about love and hate.
21
Miss Cara
Founder of Michelia Florist floral studio
"Through dialogue with flowers and plants, understand your own heart, and add your own creative design to combine with flowers and plants."
——Miss Cara
Floral creation inspired by "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace"
The theme is the color scheme of the "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace" poster. The floral materials selected are deep red tulips, velvet-textured deep red ranunculus, dark scabiosa, and deep purple lisianthus - four floral materials whose stems seem soft yet stretch out firm and strong with power.
Finally, pinwheel fruits and cat's eyes are added as accents, giving the whole work a sense of color leap. The overall image of the work is stretched, firm and upward, which also matches the changes in Ruyi's character.
22
Wang Qian
Virgo, founder of Mumu Chuchu
"In the world of floral art, where there is a protagonist there will be supporting roles. Dazzling flowers need inconspicuous foliage to set them off. Only when each plays its own role well is it perfect. A flower and a leaf each have their own rules of survival, interdependent and blending with each other; facing the sun and the water, they can flourish."
-- Wang Qian
Floral creation inspired by "Story of Yanxi Palace"
In the minimalist design, lotus leaves and lotus seed pods best embody one's true nature. The deepest happiness is often hidden in the shallowest simplicity.
Even if one is a canary trapped in a cage, even if favored by thousands and elevated as empress, one cannot escape the shackles of feudal ethics.
After seeing the works of 22 floral designers,
don't you feel floral creation has great potential?
Actually, April thinks that floral design, from conception
to creation, setting, photography, and even later interpretation,
is all a very personal feeling, which further proves that
there is no right or wrong in floral design, only individual perspectives.
Enough talking, I'm going to binge "Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace"~
END