Kerensa

Leucospermum vestitum: Evergreen with an incredible presence that can’t be ignored. This one I picked through feeling with no prior knowledge on their message. They symbolize strength, courage and resilience.

Also known as “pincushions” due to their prickly form, they also symbolize diversity as there are so many different variations of them. 

Leucospermum vestitum is one of 21 different varieties, acting as a reminder that you have the ability to be more than one variation of yourself without changing your core. As someone with multiple identities and who goes through constant change, this resonated with me deeply. Why limit yourself to being one thing, when you can explore all the different versions of yourself? 

Tanacetum parthenium: A part of the daisy family, this classic and recognizable flower symbolizes a multitude of things across different cultures. Romance, innocence, cheerfulness, friendship, and loyalty. 

These were included as a nod to a previous music video I did for a single released in 2021, “summer”. 

Helianthus: Commonly known as sunflowers, I picked out a special variation: the “tall teddy bear” sunflower. 

On the mission to find a common sunflower I came across these, and fell in love with their fluffy and unique form.

Sunflowers symbolize happiness, and having that emotion submerged underwater was the perfect visual representation for this song. 

It was paired with the teacups that are from the same set as the teapot featured with the chrysanthemum installation as they looked good together. 

Including a sunflower was also a hint to a release I have planned and ready for 2025…

Daucus carota: Wild carrot flower, also known as Queen Anne’s lace, symbolizes sanctuary. I picked these flowers as they were in season and they were simple but delicate enough to fill out empty space. 

I had no idea what they were and upon doing a reverse google search, and only got results saying it looked like mold spores (all photos were a little too blurry I guess) and had to call on a florist friend for help with identifying them. 

These were very fun to photograph as they refracted through the glass better than any of the other flowers did, creating a very satisfying blur.

Gypsophila paniculata: Most commonly known as baby’s breath (or baby’s butt as I now call it after a very confused friend misheard “breath” for “butt”). 

Symbolizing purity, sincerity and love, these are often used at weddings. 

These I chose because they’re pretty and I thought the air bubbles would gather nicely on them. They were paired with hydrangeas also purely because they looked pretty together. They were the perfect supporting character.

That’s as deep as it is with this one. 

Marimo: Also known as moss balls, the one featured in this video is named Maurice. 

Maurice’s appearance wasn’t entirely planned. He was already a part of the family and I had an old air plant glass dome that was empty next to him on display (yes, I had previously somehow killed an un killable air plant). 

The two paired together felt like the perfect combination, and was definitely the easiest installation to make. The movement of Maurice swirling around the bowl was achieved by stirring the water with a spoon, and I managed to get him into the little glass dome house with a pair of chopsticks. 

The idea of Maurice acting as a narrator didn’t happen until the editing stage of the process when I realized his character and personality had really come through when reviewing footage. Having him as the guide throughout the journey of the song felt comforting and safe. 

Marimo symbolize everlasting love and considered good luck. 

Maurice is currently happily living in a jar with his favourite rock, Denise.

Chrysanthemum: This natural work of art contains a multitude of meanings varying from colour to region. Known to symbolise everything from neglected love and sorrow to vitality, these were added to the must use list from the beginning. 

Growing up in Beijing I remember seeing these in tall congratulatory floral arrangements outside new businesses, featured on beautiful textiles, patterns, and watercolour paintings. I also have a soft spot for chrysanthemum tea (it’s just so good).

Chrysanthemums give me a sense of bittersweet nostalgia, and remind me of a home and place I don’t know when I’ll get to return to again.

The teapot featured is a part of a cherished set gifted by my Mama years ago. Pairing the two together was a nod to my Chinese heritage, something also reflected in the instrumentation of the song (through the use of the guzheng). 

Hydrangea macrophylla: Hydrangeas were on the pre-planned list of flowers from the beginning of the process.

Personally, I associate hydrangeas with comfort from having a pink and blue hydrangea bush outside the front door to the first flat I lived in in London with an old friend. Moving to London had been a long term goal for almost a decade, and I felt such a sense of relief after moving into that apartment. Seeing them in bloom is a reminder of having finally made that achievement and the gratitude I still feel for it after having lived here for years. 

Hydrangeas are known to symbolize home. Purple hydrangeas specifically, symbolize wealth, abundance, royalty, understanding and coincidently, gratitude.

Blackberry: These were unplanned until my second round of material shopping after the second glass bowl had arrived (read the delphinium section for what had happened to the glass bowl) and some of the materials had expired. They were at the florist’s at my day job as they were in season, and I thought they would look interesting underwater.

Submerged, they looked like groups of tiny multicoloured brains and I was so happy to have gone with that gut feeling. Also they made a nice snack when taking apart the installation.

Blackberries have many different symbols across different cultures. In Celtic folklore they’re believed to posses strong protective abilities and provide protection against evil spirits, and Native American tribes saw them as a symbol of good fortune and protection as well. In Europe they’ve been known to symbolize death, pain and grief. 

Ornithogalum saundersiae: I had no idea what these were and had to do a reverse Google search to find out what they are. I was drawn to their peppercorn - like centre.

They carried little bubbles so beautifully that it made them almost look like tiny pearls.

These adorable flowers symbolize innocence, purity, forgiveness, honesty and hope.

Astrantia: Star shaped and delicate, this flora has many meanings. Some say strength, bravery and innocence, and others say balance and harmony, and others say fragility. Who’s to say it can’t be all of them.

Visually I was worried they would fall apart in my hands, but they quickly let me know not to worry about their seemingly frail form. This was assuring and they held their place in the arrangements well.

Drawn to their unique shape, I felt like they chose me. We chose to work together, and got to know each other in the process.

Delphinium: Delphiniums symbolize “big hearted”, protection, striving for greatness and pushing yourself and those around you toward achieving goals. Purple delphiniums, specifically, symbolize nobility, elegance and refinement.

It was how the way their petals looked almost holographic in certain lights that drew me to them. Iridescent and ethereal, I first took notice of them when they were included in a bouquet at an old day job. A sense of peace came over me when gazing at them and the florist at work kindly told me what they were.

During one of the filming evenings, the goldfish bowl had shattered in the bathtub between changing installations. In my exhausted state I’d gripped it by the rim with one hand to pour out the water with no support anywhere else on the bowl, and the weight combined with the water and pressure snapped the glass into a cornucopia shaped dome. 

A new bowl was ordered immediately but would take three days to arrive, and the delphiniums had already dulled slightly from the day I’d acquired them. Worried they wouldn’t last until the new bowl’s arrival, I got a little creative and arranged them in the broken glass, making the best of an unexpected change in plans.

Celosia argentea var. cristata: Also known as “cockscomb” these were a planned necessity purely because they look like a brain. The idea of a floral and vibrant brain submerged in murky water on a mossy bed was a striking visual I couldn’t shake, and felt very fitting and reflective of what the song is about. It popped into my head very early in the planning process, and had to be done. 

These wrinkly and fuzzy characters symbolize silliness, something I’m sure many of us feel our brains can be. 

Logistically this one was a little tricky as the cockscomb kept floating to the surface. From above, you could see giant pile of stones almost as big as the bouquet itself holding it underwater. Thankfully they weren’t visible from the side. It was also a little tricky to shoot as the dark bowl reflected the room and the camera. I managed to get some footage and photos, but had less useable footage of this one than any of the other installations. 

Hydrangea paniculata: Symbolizing purity, innocence, honour and abundance, I decided to include a second variation of hydrangea as they’re just so beautiful.

Submerged underwater, the petals looked like tiny paper discs making up a delicate tree-like cloud, and I enjoyed this very much.

Xerochrysum bracteatum: Commonly known as the strawflower, these symbolize immortality, hope, and everlasting love. 

At an angle these looked a little like mini chrysanthemums, which was what drew me to them.

They are a part of the Aster family, which daisies are a part of as well. I didn’t know this before pairing them with daisies for the shoot. I guess some things were just meant to be.