Ana Grigoras, “Floral Art Meets Dante’s Divine Comedy: A Breathtaking Installation Created by Romanian Florists” (2025)

“In what seemed like an ordinary meeting, I sat down with my dear colleague and fellow florist, Florentina Drăghici from Atelier Floricica, who shared with me an exciting yet daunting challenge: she had been invited to take part in one of Romania’s major floral festivals and wanted me to join her on this journey. The spark was instant. Together, we began shaping the concept for a floral installation that would go far beyond the conventional — one that would speak to both the soul and the imagination.

“The inspiration? Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy is a literary masterpiece that traces a soul’s journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise.

[…]

“Unveiled during the West Side Flower Fest 2025 edition in Bucharest, the installation reached 3 meters in height and featured three symbolic arches — each representing one of the realms from Dante’s Divine Comedy: Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. The arches were placed in a triangle shape; in the middle, the visitors could find a constructed tree that symbolized a portal through which they could ‘travel’ through the realms. This was not just an artistic display — it was a floral interpretation of one of literature’s most profound spiritual journeys. […]”    —Thursd (June 25, 2025)

Contributed by Martina Franzini (Johns Hopkins University)