Our four days of learning with Gregor Lersch truly exceeded expectations. Over 60 participants experienced the mastery and wisdom of Gregor first-hand, enjoying over 25 individually crafted designs which showcased a wide range of contemporary techniques - many of which Gregor has promoted and progressed globally, making them synonymous with his signature style.
The concept and rationale behind each composition was well explained and was accompanied by further perspectives and thoughts on theory and design styles. As always, Gregor's expert knowledge of botany (he trained as a gardener) was at the fore, along with his evident joy in working with plant material in all of its diversity.
Significant takeaways for me were Gregor's historical perspective on floral design theory, and his thoughts on what's coming next in the flower industry. It was astonishing to realise that the thinking contained in Gregor's widely regarded Design Scheme (from his book, Principles of Floral Design) and other contemporary floral theories, have really only evolved in the past 70 years - still young and developing, by historical standards.
What's next with flowers? Gregor used the term "undone flowers" - a less structured approach, where materials and composition appear less manipulated or contrived. He compared this to "undone" hairstyle, and noted that creating undone styles still requires a good knowledge and skill base to produce successful results.
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