The Fabulous 15

Global sensation Fleurs de Villes announces the fifteen talented Edinburgh florists starring in the UK premiere of ARTISTE; a spectacular fresh floral celebration of Scotland's remarkable art.

Article Source: Fleurs de Villes
Last Updated: 21 May 2024 13:55

Fleurs de Villes, the world-renowned floral show behind international blockbuster exhibitions in cities including Sydney, New York, Chicago, Miami, London and Toronto, has announced the fifteen Edinburgh talents who will deploy superstar levels of floral artistry in the UK premiere - in Edinburgh - of its major new exhibition; Fleurs de Villes ARTISTE: a fresh floral celebration of Scotland’s remarkable art and the nation’s much loved artists. They are:

Robert Burns mannequin X Flowers for All Occasions
Inspired by Alexander Nasmyth, Robert Burns, 1759 - 1796. Poet, from the collection at National Galleries Scotland: Portrait

Monarch of the Glen “en fleurs” X Gillytree Studio
Inspired by Sir Edwin Landseer’s The Monarch of the Glen, from the collection at National Galleries Scotland: National

Charles Rennie Mackintosh mannequin X Partyy Event and Penelope Fleur by KDM
Inspired by the figurehead of the Glasgow Art School movement, and his prolific contributions to international Art Nouveau.

Billy Connolly Edinburgh Playhouse mannequin X Bonnie Bunches
Inspired by ‘The Big Yin’ and the landmark Edinburgh Playhouse, where Billy first performed in 1976, and numerous times since.

Annie Lennox mannequin X Flower Pixies
Inspired by the iconic outfit on the cover of Annie Lennox’s solo debut album, Diva, in 1992.

John Byrne mannequin X Wonder Flower
Inspired by esteemed portrait artist, playwright and stage designer John Byrne.

Alexander McQueen mannequin X Penelope Fleur by KDM
Inspired by the renowned designer’s collections influenced by his Scottish heritage and by Scottish culture, history, and traditions.

Dovecot Weaver mannequin X Pirita Blooms
Inspired by the 2024 summer exhibition at Dovecot Studios that features The Caged Bird’s Song - showcasing how master weavers at Dovecot brought the design to life, creating a stunning tapestry that took over three years to create.

Scottish Opera mannequin X Flowers by Kerry
Inspired by the character of Violetta Valéry, from Scottish Opera’s production of Verdi’s La traviata, directed by world-renowned Scottish director Sir David McVicar.

Jupiter Artland mannequin X Boyes Botanics
Inspired by Joana Vasconcelos’ Gateway, a colourful and interactive swimming pool art installation at Jupiter Artland, made up of vibrant, hand-painted, Portuguese tiles.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Dancer mannequin X Wildbells
Inspired by The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Dancers that celebrate the cultural tradition of highland dancing while showing how contemporary the art form can be.

Annie French mannequin X Petals by the Shore
Inspired by Annie French’s The Pink Rose, from the collection at National Galleries Scotland: Modern

Nicola Benedetti mannequin X The Flower Studio
Inspired by the renowned violinist and the first Scottish and the first female Director of The Edinburgh International Festival since it began in 1947.

Prince Charles Edward Stuart mannequin X Nikki Fleurs
Inspired by Scottish Painter Allan Ramsay’s Prince Charles Edward Stuart, 1745. Acquired by the National Galleries of Scotland in 2016, it is widely recognised as one of the most important surviving Jacobite artefacts, showing Charles’ likeness during one of the most dramatic episodes in British history, when he became the last man to lead a Scottish army into England.

Maud Sulter X Debrah J Flowers mannequin
Inspired by award-winning Scottish-Ghanaian visual artist Maud Sulter’s Terpsichore, one of nine subversive portrait photographs in her photographic series Zabat.

Fleurs de Villes, the experiential flower show sensation – known as the “floral disrupters” of the floral world – is counting down to the UK premiere of Fleurs de Villes ARTISTE at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, which will open to the public on Friday the 31st of May and run until Sunday the 9th of June, 2024.

Fifteen of Edinburgh’s stars of the flower world, each of whom have been paired with an art-related Scottish icon, will be bringing the exhibition’s theme of ARTISTE to life in a truly spectacular floral spectacle. The exhibition will feature stunning fresh floral installations inspired by iconic masterpieces including Monarch of the Glen, and inspired by Scotland’s remarkable artists past and present, from Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Robert Burns, to Annie Lennox, Billy Connolly and Alexander McQueen. These one-of-a-kind floral displays will also celebrate Edinburgh’s vibrant arts scene, drawing inspiration from Dovecot Studios, Jupiter Artland, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Scottish Opera, Edinburgh Playhouse, National Galleries of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture.

Visitors to Fleurs de Villes ARTISTE will begin by wandering through a beautiful indoor pavilion featuring a curated collection of 15 of Fleurs de Villes' famous fresh floral mannequins. While admiring the floral masterpieces, visitors will have the opportunity to watch floral demonstrations and talks from local florists and botanical experts, then can make their way to the adjacent historic Inverleith House to explore captivating rooms inspired by iconic art movements including Surrealism, Pop Art and Impressionism.

The legacy of pre-eminent Victorian botanist, Duncan Napier, will be celebrated in a Napiers the Herbalists Experience room, with the opportunity for visitors to enjoy botanical beauty and holistic well-being talks and demonstrations. Visitors can also explore the architecture and history of the Palm Houses at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in a room inspired by the incredible biodiversity of these iconic glasshouses.

New for 2024, visitors can enjoy an indulgent cream tea at the Fleurs de Villes Tea Salon on the main floor of Inverleith House, a unique experience available only for the duration of the ARTISTE exhibition.

Delicious botanical refreshments, light bites and an afternoon tea menu will also be available within the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh’s on-site Terrace café. Visitors can also pick up picnic boxes to enjoy on the lawn adjacent to the floral pavilion, where the world of fresh florals continues with two more statement exhibits; a floral-adorned Classic MG presented by MG Owners Club and a floral adorned Cyberstar MG presented by Arnold Clark.

To launch the exhibition's opening weekend in style, Fleurs de Villes will host an exclusive Le Soir evening event on Friday May 31st, starting at 6:30pm. During this enchanting evening, visitors can experience the beautiful ARTISTE exhibition accompanied by live DJ entertainment and a floral-inspired drinks menu.

Tickets to Fleurs de Villes ARTISTE (including add-on dining experiences and Le Soir evening) are on sale now and can be purchased at fleursdevilles.com/edinburgh.

General admission tickets are priced at £23 for adults, £20 for seniors and RBGE members, and £11 for kids (4-16 years). A family discount (2 adults & 2 kids) is priced at £56.

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