[Letter from the author]
Flowers have unique stories to tell. Bearing a symbolic and historical significance in the age-old tales of life, flowers remain deeply connected to the complex emotions throughout our human experiences.
From our earliest history, they've existed as a sacred symbol connecting humanity with divinity. Whether they represented a symbol of peace, love, devotion, celebration, or sympathy, or whether considered a spiritual or social offering, flowers have been considered a thoughtful gesture of human connection within global cultures. As art evolved within global culture, painting, poetry, ceramics, and other forms, flowers and their symbolism became the foundation for artistic inspiration and storytelling, paving the way for the art we now know as floristry.
Though Liza Langen Flowers became an official business years after I moved to Sweden, my grandparents, avid gardeners, were the ones who planted the first seed in my growing passion for floristry. Throughout my life, I valued the symbolism of flowers, and upon moving abroad, I realized how strongly they made me feel connected to myself and my family. Sweden was the place that taught me to embrace seasonal change more profoundly, and floristry gave me the tools to stay inspired in the dark months and present on long summer days.
Creating this book has been my reflective response to the experience of acclimating to life in a new country, telling the story of Liza Langen Flowers, and sharing my passion for floristry.
From the early brainstorming sessions to picking up the first hard copy in a small bindery two hours west of Stockholm— it's hard to express the sheer joy in knowing that all 238 pages of this book were carefully crafted with such intention, collaboration and sheer passion by everyone involved in the process. This book has been a process of self-exploration and appreciation for an art practice that has helped to frame my worldview into one of continual hope, positivity, and new life. And now, I’m so grateful to share it with you.
Liza Langen