Flower Power Carmen Channers on creativity, sustainability and the inspiration behind our festive displays

I thought about the qualities of the Chinese New Year: its strong, vibrant spirit of coming together, along with the symbolic cherry blossom flower that signals a new year and new beginnings. The circles [in the design] represent the moons and suns that have risen and set before our eyes, its wholesomeness present as we experience the cyclic nature of time and change.

I was also quite taken with the idea of falling cherry blossoms. There’s something very elegant and theatrical about such a simple act.

Sustainability is something that is important to me and my work. It’s not necessarily central to my concepts, though it is something I always take into consideration quite naturally. I care about the world and about people, and it’s about being conscious of one’s impact when creating and making. “Sustainable” is such a strange word in a way, but it’s something we can all so easily practice in the industry, be it reconsidering packaging, marketing, manufacturing processes, reusing, recycling etc. It’s a really rewarding feeling to know that you’ve made an effort to make a difference, no matter how big or small.

I was always creative growing up but not more so than any other child my age. I was by no means a prodigy, but I have relatively creative parents and had a fabulous art teacher in secondary school who was very encouraging.

Growing up in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, the cultures I was immersed in both physically, emotionally and mentally have been very vivid, boisterous and creatively influential too. All of it has really shaped who I am, as well as the attitude in which I run my creative practice.

Colour, craft, kitsch, emotion, attitude, humour.

Pave the way for sustainable living this Chinese New Year, by decorating your space with our curated selection of home décor.

Discover Carmen’s artwork at Lane Crawford ifc mall, Lane Crawford Canton Road, and Lane Crawford Times Square.