Green Hydrangea Flowers, Tess Finnegan

Statue of a Roman Soldier

Photographed by Sarandon Smith

Florist’s Interpretation

In the back garden of the Anderson House is a standing sculpture of a Roman soldier. For purposes of this exhibit, we will assume the Roman soldier has returned triumphant from a successful campaign abroad and has merited a triumphal procession. During a triumphal procession, a Roman general would have worn a crown of laurel (suggested here by green ruscus), and a magnificent purple toga edged in gold embroidery (reimagined as undulating rows of purple dyed asparagus fern bordered with dyed gold ruscus) as he rode his chariot, arm outstretched in victory. The victorious Roman soldier was sometimes depicted with his face painted red like the Romans' highest god, Jupiter (suggested here by red spider germini with slashed petals suggesting the toll of war). Rows of palm fronds form the backdrop of the floral installation, calling to mind the palm fronds that would have been scattered at the soldiers' feet during such a military-political parade. The irony here is this: as the days progress during ART IN BLOOM, as the floral experiences Washington DC's hot June temperatures, and as the color fades and the stems droop, we are of course reminded that war is brutal and devastating and that there is no real triumph in a sustained campaign of slaughter abroad.

-Tess Finnegan