The Flower of Goodness

Abstract

This article, The Flower of Goodness, is inspired by a mother's pure love for her child and aims to 1) explore how to express the ideals born from this love and 2) create visual art that embodies the "flower of goodness." Through field studies and literature reviews, data were analyzed for content, form, materials, and technique, merging theoretical principles with imagination to uncover artistic possibilities. The creative process began with pencil sketches of daylilies, lotuses, and jasmines, combined with Chinese characters from ancient poems, nursery rhymes, and traditional blessings expressing maternal love and hope. The installation comprises three sections: five fabric panels hanging in layered pathways, a circular mosquito net encasing a lotus sculpture and jasmine garlands, and a central large lotus sculpture, uniting all elements. White fabric and embroidered yarn evoke the tradition of mothers crafting clothes for their children, while flowers symbolize virtues like goodness, love, and respect. Chinese characters from poetry and teachings convey a mother's deep wishes for her child. The 2D floral patterns on fabric, circular net, 3D lotus sculptures, and soft, warm-coloured embroidery evoke purity, warmth, and gentleness. This immersive experience brings ancient Chinese literature into fine art through contemporary methods, achieving aesthetic value—through form, composition, and light—and humanistic value by celebrating the universal ideals of motherhood, compassion, and nurturing love.