Minutes before Harijanto Setiawan's photoshoot, we watch him assemble a stunning floral arrangement made up of towering branches, tropical flowers and beautiful greens. He is a master at work, who constructs quietly and rapidly.
Known for his flamboyant arrangements that decorate luxury events and society weddings, Setiawan made headlines when he launched his signature Haribana style in 2020. The catchy portmanteau is his modern spin on ikebana, the Japanese art of floral arrangement, but with more architectural and complex elements.
The founder of Boenga, a Singapore-based floral studio, has an impressive laundry list of local and global accolades. These include gold medals at the Sanya Flower Show in China and Floria Putrajaya Malaysia, a silver medal at International Floral Art Belgium and the International Designer of the Year award by Fusion Flowers UK. To date, Setiawan remains the only floral designer to be awarded the prestigious President's Designer of the Year in 2013.
In a Prestige interview in 2021, the Indonesian-born former architect said that he had fought for the title. He had been a finalist for three years prior but was told that his work was regarded as art and not design. He finally successfully argued that more recognition was needed for floral design and local art. This same tenacity is what motivated him to create Haribana in the throes of the pandemic, and what inspired his new book devoted to this style.
Setiawan's upcoming collaboration with Takashimaya Singapore, which runs from Mar 8 to 12, is a celebration of the department store's 30th anniversary this year. The Floral Extravagance event features his unique aesthetic, the book launch and a slew of exciting highlights. He tells us more in the following interview.
Tell us about your earliest memory of working with flowers.
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Prestige Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Prestige Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Power To The People
Boucheron creative director Claire Choisne's latest high-jewellery creations are stylish statements of authority and achievement.
Walking into the Blue
Dive into luxury at Depth of Blue, Johnnie Walker Blue Label's first flagship bar in Southeast Asia. Dive into luxury at Depth of Blue, Johnnie Walker Blue Label's first flagship bar in Southeast Asia.
IN THE FLOW
For ANDRÉ FU, travel isn't so much a means of inspiration as it is a way to detach from everyday life to approach his work from fresh perspectives.
CHIC VOLUMES
Impractically oversized but utterly beautiful tomes featuring an eclectic subject, coffee table books serve to kick-start conversations in addition to being subtle avenues of sophisticated self-expression. Here are six titles to consider having on your living room table.
VICTOR OVER TIME
35 years after they broke convention as renegade art students, Phillip Lim catches up with eminent artist SUZANN VICTOR to reminisce about past escapades and how far the artist has come.
Circle of Friends
A Singapore family that has set up a second home in remote Kenya shares their connection with the local communities with guests of their lodge.
VIVE LA WEAVE
Chanel's latest high jewellery collection celebrates the innovation that put her squarely in the pantheon of legendary fashion designers.
VIEW BEYOND THE RACES
For Richard Mille, life in the fast lane is more than just performance-driven machines, it's a profound appreciation for excellence in various forms.
OFF TO THE FAIR
Watch clients are increasingly dropping into Watches and Wonders, a trade fair meant for retailers and media personnel. Here's why.
STEP LIVELY
In the original design of Hermès' Mon Premier Galop shawl by Chinese artist Tong Ren, a horse with an awkward yet happy gait is depicted in simple lines, colour blocks, and decorative-trimming inspired by traditional basketry.
