Floral installations from around the world get shoppers buzzing at Kolkata mall

Quest Mall is treating shoppers with a different kind of therapy this week. With its show Floral Fantasy, the mall brought in floral artistes from around the world for a visual and olfactory session, which promises a treat to the eyes as well as the soul with its aesthetics.

Themed Happiness, large floral installations greet you as you enter the mall. Floral designers such as Přemysl Hytych from the Czech Republic, Tomas De Bruyne from Belgium, Andy Djati Utomo from Indonesia, Anson Low from Singapore, Kazuhiko Tanaka from Japan and Phubast Chesdmethee from Thailand have created breathtaking works of art from flowers, never displayed before in Kolkata. The artists use orchids, tulips, pincushions, marigold and other delicate beauties interspersed with elements from light bulbs and wooden sticks to bamboo bric-a-brac. 

Showing alongside them are two Indian artistes – Kolkata-based Baishakhi Ghosh and Babita Jain from Jaipur. Ghosh, who calls herself a curator and 'aesthetician', is wowing people with her eight-foot installation of a lotus flower, made from a combination of Rajnigandha flower or tuberose and chickoo leaves. The strong fragrance from her tuberose installation fills the air, attracting young and old alike for a click. A total of 380 kgs of tuberose and 15,000 kgs of chickoo leaves were used in the installation. Ghosh, who curates floral designs for weddings as well, expressed her delight at being a part of this show. She says, “Something like this is happening for the first time in Kolkata, and I am happy to be a part of this. Floral installments are big in Belguim, and I keep participating there.”