Joseph Ven Garay Dumadag (center) of Bohol is shown receiving his international award from Floral Designer Society Singapore (FDSS) President Damien Koh Pfci Aifd (left) and Singapore Senior Minister of State Simm Ann (right). Contributed photo
by ROG
A homegrown Boholano artist wins a big award in the global arena.
Blue Grass Project’s Joseph Ven Garay Dumadag recently won for the Philippines the Best Creative Design Award, Professional Category, at the prestigious 12th International Floral Designers Society Singapore (FDSS) Floral Design Competition held in Singapore.
His prize-winning entry, “Metal” was an homage and testament to the grace, resilience and strength of metal which is forged to last several lifetimes.
The wonderful thing about metal is it only gets more beautiful and interesting as with time and matures over the years.
It takes up to 500 years for metal to disintegrate into dust and blend into the atmosphere.
During the said floral competition that gathered some of the world’s top florists, stylists and the movers & shakers of the floral industry, Dumadag further stressed that his entry is a floral celebration of metal.
Blue Grass Project is the Bohol-based creative collaboration between Dumadag and Michael Yu.
They are no strangers to making a splash in international exhibits and competitions.
A few years back, Blue Grass Project won for the Philippines the Best in Design Concept and Composition Award at the 1st World Orchid Association International Floral Skills Category, Buddha Flower Show held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Furthermore, the Blue Grass Project also copped the Bronze Medal at the Japan International Flower Show, Gold Prize at the Putrajaya Body Flower Competition, in Indonesia and Best Table Decor at the Sanya International Flower Festival in Hainan, China, among others.
Meanwhile, the seasoned duo has been featured in almost 30 international floristry events in the last 10 years.
This October 2022, they are bringing to Bohol a dozen international florists to do workshops, demos and floral installations at South Palms Panglao, South Farm, North Zen Villas and Modala Beach Resort.