Harijanto Setiawan
| Harijanto Setiawan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1972 Indonesia |
| 💼 Occupation | Floral designer, architect |
| 📆 Years active | 2002–present |
| 🏢 Organization | Boenga |
| Known for | Structural floral art, "Haribana" style |
| Notable work | Floral Kaleidoscope (2012), Florid Electron (2023) |
| Title | International Master Florist |
| 🏅 Awards | Singapore President's Design Award (2013) Singapore Garden Festival Gold & Best of Show (2012) RHS Chelsea Flower Show Silver-Gilt Medal (2013) PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Gold & Best in Show (2023) |
| 🌐 Website | harijantosetiawan |
Harijanto Setiawan is an Indonesian floral designer, floral judge and book author. He became the first floral designer to win the President's Design Award Singapore in 2013[1][2][3].
Setiawan was born in Indonesia in 1972 and later became a permanent resident of Singapore.[4]
Early life and education
Setiawan was raised in Central Java.[5]As a child, he developed an interest in flowers. He tried taking a flower arrangement class in primary school, but gave up after the teacher criticized his work for being too messy and lacking any style.[2]
Setiawan earned his Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung, Indonesia.[5][6] He went to Australia to continue his studies, earning a Master of Real Estate degree from the University of New South Wales in 1997. [3][6] In 2023, he completed specialized training and attained the title of International Master Florist from the Boerma Instituut Flower School in the Netherlands.[7]
Career
After graduation, Setiawan worked as a Technical Associate in the Changi Airport Development department of the former Singapore Public Works Department (PWD, now known as Singapore CPG Corporation) for seven years. His job scope included selecting carpets and designing toilets for the expansion of airport terminals.[5][8]
Setiawan transitioned from architecture to floristry by founding the Singapore-based floral design studio Boenga Pte Ltd in 2004[6][9][10](with some secondary government profiles referencing 2002[3]).
Setiawan served as the president of the Floral Designers Society Singapore (FDSS) from 2013 to 2015.[11][3] He was a tutor in the Interflora World Cup 2023 held in Manchester, UK.[12][7] The UK-based international industry platform Floral Fundamentals appointed him as an ambassador. [13][7]. Setiawan authored three books — Mystical Floral Journey, WTF! What The Flowers, and Haribana.[6]
Setiawan has been a judge for international floral design competitions:
Singapore Garden Festival - Judge for Floral Windows to the World - 2016, 2018, 2024 and 2026.[7] [14]
Philadelphia Flower Show - Lead floral judge - 2026[6]
Awards and achievements
Setiawan has received multiple honours for his floral work, including being named "Designer of the Year" at the 2013 President's Design Award in Singapore.[3][15][16]
Singapore Garden Festival 2012 (7-15 July) - Best of Show and Gold Award
Setiawan took part in the fourth biennial Singapore Garden Festival held at Suntec Singapore. His "Floral Kaleidoscope" design was exhibited in the Floral Windows to the World competitive category, earning both the Gold Award and the Best of Show distinction.[16][17] Due to Setiawan's background in architecture, the installation integrated flowers with specialized lighting and structural geometry, as well as music.[18][19] The layout of the installation featured a window display constructed to mirror the optical effects of a traditional kaleidoscope, utilizing a sequence of mirrors inside a window frame to reflect an illuminated floral arrangement suspended from the ceiling.[18] The geometry was designed to create shifting visual patterns symbolizing movement within nature.
President's Design Award (2013) - Designer of the Year
In December 2013, Setiawan was awarded the President's Design Award, the "Designer of the Year" accolade from the DesignSingapore Council and the Urban Redevelopment Authority.[3] He was the first floral designer in Singapore to receive this national honour, which is traditionally awarded to architects, industrial designers, and urban planners.[3][6][20]
The jury panel noted that Setiawan's approach helped transition floristry from a decorative craft into a structurally complex design discipline. The official citation highlighted his ability to manipulate spatial volumes and scale, stating that his background in architecture allowed him to "approach floral design spatially with a structural spirit, while engaging the human body".[3] Flowers were recognized as a design material with "the ability to transform any space". The award recognized his commercial contributions through his studio, Boenga, and his tenure as President of the Floral Designers Society Singapore (FDSS).[16]
RHS Chelsea Flower Show (2013) - Silver Gilt Medal
In May 2013, Setiawan marked his competitive debut at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show in London, United Kingdom.[21] Competing in the "Floral Arrangement Awards" bracket, his exhibition entry was awarded the Silver-Gilt Flora prize.[3]
Philadelphia Flower Show (2023) - Gold Medal and the "Best in Show - Floral"
In March 2023, Setiawan participated in the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) Philadelphia Flower Show, which operated under the annual theme "The Garden Electric."[22][23] His Florid Electron display explored how nighttime environments create distinct lighting opportunities for structural floral arrangements.[24]
The physical mechanics of Florid Electron utilized vibrant pink and orange lilies alongside strategically placed carnivorous Venus flytraps to establish visual contrast.[24] The submission was awarded both a Gold Medal and the "Best in Show - Floral" title for the floral design division, recognizing its innovative use of textures, shapes, and multimedia lighting elements.[22][23]
Setiawan received the Silver Leaf Award at the International Floral Art 2010/2011 competition in Belgium for his floral installation, "Stairway to Heaven".[25] [19][26]
Setiawan was named the International Designer of the Year 2015 by Fusion Flowers London. [27][20][28]
In 2017, Setiawan built a 3-metre, over 200kg Crimson Sunbird display crafted with edibles (chillis, paprika, long beans, tomatoes, carrots, passion fruit and grapes for the Community Garden Festival. [29][30]
Design philosophy and "Haribana"
Setiawan’s artistic approach is distinct for its large-scale structural methodology, a technique heavily influenced by his academic background in architectural engineering and spatial design.[3] Rather than treating floristry as an accessory or superficial decoration, his installations are built as architectural structures that alter physical spatial volumes.[16]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Setiawan conducted online floral arrangement classes. To separate his practice from the traditional, orthodox schools of Japanese Ikebana design, he introduced a hybrid methodology that fused structural geometric frameworks with minimalist line placement. He decided to use a part of his first name, 'Hari', for his methodology that is ikebana-inspired and blended with architecture, calling it “Haribana”.[5][4] The "Haribana" technique was featured in his 2023 book published by Stichting Kunstboek.[31]
Publications
- A Mystical Floral Journey (2016) OCLC 961834231
- WTF! What The Flowers (2018) ISBN 978-0692151433
- Haribana (2023) Published by Stichting Kunstboek. ISBN 978-9058566843 OCLC 1302176551
References
- ↑ Zachariah, Natasha Ann (23 December 2013). "MASTER OF THE BLOOMS". The Straits Times. p. 2. Retrieved 17 July 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tan, Annabel (Apr 20, 2021). "Something old, something new: Architect-turned-florist Harijanto Setiawan on modernising ikebana". Prestige Online. Retrieved 18 June 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 "Harijanto Setiawan - President's Design Award Singapore". President's Design Award Singapore. 2024-04-05. Retrieved 2026-06-18.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sajan, Chantal (2023-07-01). "Master of floral art creates a new form of ikebana during pandemic". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Fangwei, Lin (17 January 2021). "自创花道流派 Haribana 柔软的建筑 (Haribana – Self-created Ikebana in Soft Architecture Approach)". Lianhe Zaobao. Retrieved 25 June 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "Flower Show Awards and Judges". Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Retrieved 2026-06-25.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Judges". Singapore Garden Festival. Retrieved 2026-06-25.
- ↑ Zachariah, Natasha Ann (December 23, 2013). "The Life! Interview with Harijanto Setiawan". The Straits Times. pp. Life, Pages 1-2. Retrieved July 1, 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Lim, Mary (Nov 15, 2024). "Boenga Founder Harijanto Setiawan Uses Floral Design To Make Positive Impact". a+ Singapore. Retrieved 2026-07-06. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "HARIJANTO SETIAWAN - @boengaflowers - About Me". harijantosetiawan.com. Archived from the original on 2026-01-17. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
- ↑ "About Us – FDSS". The Floral Designers Society (Singapore). July 6, 2026. Retrieved 2026-07-06. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Robertson, Nita (2023-05-26). "Top 10 Florist Education Opportunities In 2023 - Florists' Review". Florists' Review. Retrieved 2026-07-07. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Harijanto Setiawan". Floral Fundamentals. July 1, 2026. Retrieved July 1, 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Tucknott, Nina (2024-08-05). "Singapore Garden Festival 2024 - Flora Magazine". Retrieved 2026-07-07.
- ↑ Sajan, Chantal (February 11, 2022). "Dress up your home with a Valentine's Day-themed floral arrangement". The Straits Times. Retrieved July 1, 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 "Annex A: President's Design Award 2013 Recipients" (PDF). National Archives of Singapore. 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
- ↑ Harrison, Jerome (2012-07-07). "Gardens of enchantment". The Long and Winding Road. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "An engineer-turned-florist and his passion for floral art". VietnamNet. 2017-05-21. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Hall of Honours – members who has flown the FDSS flag up high – FDSS". The Floral Designers Society (Singapore). Retrieved 2026-07-17.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Saini, Nafeesa (February 24, 2023). "Boenga founder and floral designer Harijanto Setiawan on the inspiration behind his new book and upcoming collaboration with Takashimaya". Prestige Online Singapore. Retrieved 2026-07-10. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "This Singaporean Floral Artist Just Won The Top Prize At The Chelsea Flower Show". Harper's Bazaar Singapore. 2017-06-03. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 "2023 Philadelphia Flower Show Announces Award Winners". Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Sparks, Brian (2023-03-14). "Big Winners From the 2023 Philadelphia Flower Show". Greenhouse Grower. Retrieved 2026-07-01. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ 24.0 24.1 Brooke, Jill (2023-03-06). "Philadelphia Flower Show's "Garden Electric" Best In Years". Florists' Review. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
- ↑ "Ikebana million blooms to help Thalassemia unit | The Sunday Times Sri Lanka". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. January 15, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Royal FLORIA Putrajaya 2015". Royal Floria Putrajaya. Retrieved 2026-07-17. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Tatler Asia (2016-04-30). "Boenga's Floral Wonderlands". Tatler Asia. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
- ↑ Unushay, Ashfaq (2016-04-26). "World-renowned floral artist's tricks of the trade enthrall Karachi audience". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2026-07-10. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Lew, Cassandra (2 November 2017). "Larger Community Garden Festival returns to HortPark" (PDF). National Archives Singapore. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Raffaella Nathan, Charles (2017-11-02). "Stroll among 11,000 plants at Community Garden Festival". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2026-07-08.
- ↑ "Review of Haribana". International Floral Design Quarterly. 12 (3): 14. 2019.
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