A Chinese artist wowed judges at the world's most famous pressed
flower competition, winning two gold awards.
Professor Chen Guoju from South China Agricultural University
garnered two first place awards during the annual Philadelphia
Flower Show, which wrapped up on March 11.
The works, entitled "Irish Knot" and "The Legendary Figure,"
were made to echo this year's theme of "Legends of Ireland."
Chen Guoju's university said her victory demonstrates "the
country's high level in pressed flower art."
This art form involves pressing dried flowers and plants on
paper to form patterns. Finished pieces are appreciated for their
vibrant colors and their creative display of nature.
Chen Guoju is a member of the World Wide Pressed Flower Guild,
and in 1997 she opened the first pressed flower art course in
China.
She is also writing a book on the art, in an effort to
popularize its practice in China.
(CRI March 14, 2007)
