Fusion Flowers Magazine

144 pages Hardback - Written in English & Dutch - Published 2006 by Stichting Kunstboek - Photography by Bart van Leuven

AB This book is the second produced in a series by the Publishing House Stichting Kunstboek entitled Floral Interior Decoration. Previously Paris was the subject and this time Marcel van Dijk has undertaken the same concept in The Netherlands and the results could not be more strikingly different.

Neutral room settings are perfect foils for this type of work but Marcel has also undertaken the difficult task of working with oil paintings as his background. The resulting designs are very varied, some showing apparent simplicity which contrasts with the constrained control of technically challenging work and the wildly avant-garde.

The strength of this work for me is in the "Installation" section of the book which is without doubt at Master level. Varying from: pink banana stems used as an "offering" to Buddha where the use of the stems resemble candelabrum; magnificent wall hangings suspended in mid air; cubic block work designs using tillandsia and shells; to expert bowl work using miniscule heads of lianas.

Other sections include "Decoration" which shows both classical and contemporary concepts, "Communication" where his use of colour and texture stirs the senses and "Integration" with his simple poppy settings contrasting against a jaw dropping table setting using only Polygonatum multiflorum (the much feared Japanese Knotweed) and candles!

Marcel has clearly embraced the challenge that he was set and the results are, on occasion, quite surprising and certainly stimulating. Undoubtedly it will be the Master works which shine but these, of course, have been constructed - by a Master.

Prices inclusive of post & packing.