code OF
flowers
Lissy & Ellen
- 04.
in-depth exploration
After the third-week feedback, we conducted further research on existing flower-related systems and reflected more deeply on the feedback we received. Our goal was to gather insights and identify ways to address the concerns raised. We revisited our initial inspiration — the game Chants of Sennaar — to explore how language and symbolism can shape interaction. Additionally, we gained valuable insights from the V&A Museum’s warehouse collection in London. I also explored Japanese traditions such as Flower Ikebana (the art of flower arrangement) and Hanafuda (flower-themed playing cards), uncovering how plants and flowers are embedded within cultural and symbolic systems.
V&A
I came across a questionnaire at the V&A warehouse that asked visitors what kinds of collections they would be most interested in seeing. One particular response caught my attention; many people expressed interest in exploring the relationship between humans and plants.
For me, nature has always felt like a mysterious and gentle presence that quietly surrounds us. This made me reflect more deeply on our connection with plants and nature — how we communicate, interact, and ultimately form a stronger bond with them.
chants of sennar
This game offers a fascinating experience of discovering a new world through an unfamiliar language, gradually revealing the conflicts and stories within an ancient village.
Insight: Since we initially had little understanding of what each symbol represented, we began analyzing their visual elements, background music, and the interactions between characters; some symbols even resembled like smiles or directional signs. This process made me realize how the forms of flowers, such as petals and leaves, maybe can carry symbolic meanings, inspiring me to explore the potential messages they might convey.
*scenes in the game
ikebana
The Japanese art of flower arrangement, is a disciplined practice that emphasizes harmony, balance, and the spiritual connection between nature and the arranger. Unlike decorative floral design, Ikebana focuses on line, space, and minimalism, expressing the beauty of natural forms and the passage of time.
Insight: I find Ikebana to be a beautiful practice that uses the linear forms of branches and flowers to create expressive compositions. It connects to our concept of breaking the simple equation flower = meaning, revealing the subtle details within each flower and opening new possibilities for interpretation.
Hanafuda
Hanafuda are traditional Japanese playing cards decorated with floral motifs representing the twelve months of the year. Beyond their use in games, they reflect Japan’s deep cultural connection with nature, symbolism, and seasonal change.
Insights: Through playing, people learn about seasonal flowers and their cultural symbolism. It also connects to our concept of breaking away from the conventional equation. Instead, it shows that by understanding local seasons, flora, and traditions, flowers can represent time and context, aligning with our intention to challenge the fixed meanings typically assigned to them.
Floral Morphology
We also examined the structure of the flowers, focusing on the petals to explore whether their shape and form have any connection to their symbolic meanings in the dictionary. (Dictionary of Flowers)
Insights:
Floral characteristics themselves can convey meaning through their physical form. For example, the alstroemeria’s leaves grow upside down, twisting as they emerge from the stem so that the underside faces upward, a reflection of the twists, turns, and growth within our friendships. This observation led me to consider how messages and emotions can be communicated through the natural structures of flowers.
weeklyreview.
After conducting extensive research, we realized that our goal is not to create an entirely new language system. However, many of our previous steps have unintentionally laid the groundwork for one. This realization prompted us to pause and reconsider our direction, to reflect on what we truly want to achieve with plants, and what possibilities lie within our scope.