Tropical Colors: The Art Of Living With Tropical Flowers

Flowers have always been an integral part of the cultural fabric of Thailand and a constant reminder of the country's Buddhist heritage and identity. Flowers are lavishly used to mark rituals and rites of passage; they are indispensable in age-old acts of worship, celebrations, and daily life. Every day, scores of women at the royal court create floral offerings for the venerated images of Buddha in Bangkok's temples and palaces. Many Thais pause on their way to work to offer flowers and a prayer at wayside shrines. In Tropical Colors, Sakul Intakul, shares the wonderful world of Thai flower arrangement. He shows how leaves from banana and coconut trees, bamboo twigs, wire netting, and an assortment of other materials, blend harmoniously with lush tropical blossoms to form floral installations that elevate the everyday to the divine. The philosophy behind the arrangements, the interiors or occasions for which they are appropriate, and a brief explanation of the techniques and materials used will inspire readers to create their own artistic arrangements.