The delicate interplay between life and death becomes an artistic muse for Kreetta Järvenpää, a Helsinki-based photographer and artist whose floral arrangements transcend the conventional appreciation of blossoms. For Järvenpää, wilting stems are as captivating as flowers in full bloom, each phase contributing to the narrative of her arrangements.
Her passion for flowers traces back to her mother, a devoted gardener during Järvenpää’s formative years. Although initially resistant to following in her mother’s footsteps, life took an unexpected turn, reigniting her connection to flowers after her mother’s sudden passing in 2016. Subsequently, Järvenpää immersed herself in the art of creating arrangements, discovering a profound language with flowers.
The essence of her work lies in the harmonious integration of fresh, wilting, and dried flowers. This artistic choice, inspired by the themes of life and death, reflects Järvenpää’s deep respect for the full life cycles of flowers. Her creative process draws inspiration from the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age paintings, particularly their masterful use of light to capture the ephemeral beauty of blooms.
“I want to respect the full lives of the flowers. There is so much more to them than the perfect moment of one day,” Järvenpää expresses, underscoring her commitment to acknowledging the entirety of a flower’s existence.
Sourcing stems locally and sustainably, Järvenpää creates painterly compositions that embody the poetry of nature’s inevitable evolution. The arrangements serve as a testament to the intricate dance between life and death, a narrative that extends beyond the conventional notions of floral perfection.
In a symbolic twist, seeds from dried plants integrated into Järvenpää’s arrangements hold the potential for the next season’s growth, perpetuating the cyclical beauty of life. Through her artistry, she encourages us to embrace the transient nature of existence and find allure in the different stages of a flower’s journey.
