'Flowers can literally let you speak'

'Funeral flower arrangements are a personal message to the deceased or the bereaved, a translation of emotion,' says floral designer Max van de Sluis. 'This is how I make the flower arrangements warm but also colorful and expressive - never cold. Flowers can literally let you speak.'

That intention also frames the form. 'With a pillow you literally say 'rest in peace,' that captures a multitude of memories. And a heart shape I like to give extra movement, so it becomes more personal and looks less stiff.'

'Usually I work in a very planned and visual way. Before I start, I already have about 90 percent of the end result in my head. I am a visual thinker - first see it before me, then do it.' In his use of materials, he consciously chooses extremes 'It is either a multiplicity or the power of mono.'

Recently his book Sustainable Flora Design, which Max co-authored with Per Benjamin, was released. In it a lot of inspiration for the florist. 'Sustainability is an inescapable trend that everyone in our industry has to deal with. Just think of stricter requirements of (natural) cemeteries and a more conscious public. That makes 'sustainable' techniques and materials increasingly important - especially in funeral arrangements.'

"Hearts just remain my favorite!

Awarded for her perfect technique and eye for detail, floral designer Hanneke Frankema's working method combines aesthetics with functionality and symbolism. In Afscheidsbloemwerk, Hanneke searches for stillness, symbolism and tactility.

'I love floral work with a mix of many kinds of flowers and details in which a lot can be seen. However, for this series I have mostly deliberately chosen fewer species and a clear form language: Simplicity but a powerful form is also very beautiful. It is then about the art of omission.'

'What that produces? Cuddly texture, for example, from soft Clematis fluff or finely feathered foliage from Asparagus. Nice skin from Hypericum berries, which dry in nicely, also works well. All this, of course, on a bio base and fixed for long lasting durability. Nice carefully placed details, such as inverted Clematis flowers or sinuous Allium stems, bring enough movement or, on the contrary, form a quiet focal point without disturbing the overall picture.'

And again and again, the heart shape returns as a timeless symbol of closeness and remembrance. 'Hearts simply remain my favorite.'

Green embraced

An airy heart-shaped wire frame in the 'crush' technique forms the base, wrapped all around with finely feathered Asparagus setaceus 'Plumosus' and secured with green bouillon wire. Injected with glue, the foliage remains nicely intact. Two compact flowers of Phalaenopsis bring light and focus to the green center.

Berry heart in simplicity

A small simple heart with a skin of tightly pinned Hypericum berries on a red heart-shaped Styrofoam base. The drying value causes the berries to darken, shrinking slightly, allowing the subtle red of the base to shine through later. A single Gloriosa sets a graceful line - the art of omission applies here.

Soft lint

An OASIS Bio heart is fully lined with the soft seed heads of Clematis Amazing Kibo. The seed heads dry very nicely. Fixed with spray glue, the cuddly texture remains beautiful for months. Two curved stems of Allium sphaerocephalon and inverted flowers of Clematis Amazing Miami draw elegant movement and show the beautiful underside of the flowers.

Two hearts in one

A heart of silver aluminum wire (2 mm) is given a soft, silver-gray skin v an Calocephalus brownii. It is secured by wrapping with silver bouillon wire. Inside, a second, intimate small heart shape is glued with fine flowers - a beautiful symbolism. Materials used: Chrysanthemum, Scabiosa, Tillandsia, lisianthus, Clematis Amazing Kibo, mini Phalaenopsis and leaves of Kalanchoe.