Flower Carpets/Tapetes Floridos
Each year during religious festivals, citizens on the island of Sao Miguel, Azores line the streets with carpets made of flowers for people to walk on during processions. The whole neighbourhood works together to blanket the cobblestone streets with wood chips, and seasonal plants found within the region. Wooden frames are built or inherited and unique to each home. Flowers commonly used are Hydrangeas, Calla Lilies, Roses, and Daisies. As the son of Portuguese immigrants from Sao Miguel I have always been fascinated by this tradition. During a visit to the Azores as a small child, I remember helping my aunt and uncle create their section of flower carpet that spanned from one end of their house to the other. The smell of freshly picked flower petals and greenery was intoxicating and only intensified once they were tread upon. Each frame is created by hand and passed down from generation to generation. Typical motifs are circles, diamonds, squares, etc. and plant life is harvested seasonally from gardens, and wild areas. Coloured wood chips are used in combination to add bright colours. The sheer magnitude and hours of work involved in creating these flower carpets are a true testament to the love and devotion felt by the inhabitants of the Azores. Growing up in Toronto, Ontario, in Little Portugal, gave me a strong sense of belonging within the Portuguese community. Since moving to St. Catharines, ON I’ve felt disconnected from my heritage. As a way to reconnect I’ve created my own flower carpets. After many months of research, I have created wooden frames using designs and motifs passed down to me by my family. Grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins have shared with me their traditions to incorporate into my contemporary context. I have been collecting plant life from my own garden and the Niagara Region to continue this tradition by creating my own personal interpretation of this familial art form. In addition to collecting seasonal plant life from around the Niagara Region to use in my work, I have also included plant life commonly found in the suburban landscape. Coincidentally, the Hydrangea is the National flower of the Azores and is very commonly used in suburban gardens, however, it is not native to the Niagara Region. Once I've assembled the wooden frames and flowers/plants, I photograph them in my studio and digitally assemble the long paths of the flower carpets. My intention is to inspire a sense of cultural history, family pride, and nostalgia that connects memories from the past with those of today.
Danny Custodio gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council.
