A Floral Muse exhibition celebrates the universal beauty and influence of flowers and plants on decorative fine arts within the home.
On display until the end of July, the exhibition at Heritage Hill's Benga House, features items from the City of Greater Dandenong’s Civic and Cultural Heritage Collection and private collections to highlight the significance of floral decoration used by local cultures.
The exhibition explores the changes in the use of plants and flowers for domestic objects over different design periods. During the 1800s Victorian era, homes in suburban Melbourne became a cluttered celebration of floral embellishment with the practice of ‘floriography’, the language of flowers, to convey secret emotions and meanings.
This is juxtaposed with the more bespoke Arts and Crafts Movement, the elegant flowing curves of the early 1900s Art Nouveau, and the sleek linear styles of the Art Deco Movement and Modernism of the 1920s and 1930s, that has maintained its popularity today.
Mayor, Cr Jim Memeti said a piece of furniture, porcelain or glassware decorated with beautiful flowers and plants, often carefully passed down between generations is a cherished memento of the past and takes pride of place in any home.
“A visit to this exhibition will explain why these changes in style and design occurred over the years, how they were made and why many designs used in traditional universal floral symbolism became popularised in the mass production of home items in years gone by,” said the Mayor.
Residents are encouraged to attend two free presentations at Benga House, Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, with afternoon tea provided:
• Pamela Sutton presents the history and significance of the W.H.Rocke & Co furniture manufacturer and retailing firm in Victoria, Friday 10 June, 1.30pm-3.30pm
• Join a walk-through presentation to learn about the historical and cultural backgrounds of the exhibition items on display, Wednesday 13 July, 1.30pm-3.30pm.
Places are limited so please register your interest.
Benga House is in the grounds of Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens, at 66 McCrae St, Dandenong. It's open Tuesdays-Fridays from 10am-4pm.
For more information visit greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au/greater-dandenong-council/events/floral-muse-exhibition.