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Speaking Through Flowers. Stories of Giving
Press release
18.05.2026
Image Credits
Duration
21.05.2026 - 31.01.2027
Opening
20.05.2026 7pm
Press event
18.05.2026 11am - 12pm
Place of the press event
Folk Life Museum
Show all
Flowers accompany us through life’s big and small moments. They express love, gratitude, comfort or reconciliation, often following unspoken social conventions. As gifts, they tell stories about relationships, emotions and cultural significance. Yet the bouquet of fresh flowers as we know it today only became common practice around 150 years ago – before that, artfully crafted bouquets made of glass, paper or fabric were cherished and enduring gifts.
The exhibition “Speaking Through Flowers. Stories of Giving” invites visitors to rediscover the multifaceted world of floral gifts. It explores the symbolic, political and personal power of flowers, regional artificial flower manufacturers, and contemporary perspectives on plants as intelligent co-creators of our environment. The role of flowers as an expression of self-care and conscious attention is also examined.
The exhibition is complemented by the art project “Forget-Me-Not / Vergissmeinnicht” by Regula Dettwiler in the Antoniuskirche. The exhibition and art project open up new perspectives on the language of flowers in the past and present.
Exhibition views
Margit Horvath-Suntinger, Kuratorin der Ausstellung mit Michaela Steinböck-Köhler, Leiterin des Volkskundemuseums am Paulustor
Foto: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek
Ursula Grilnauer, Restauratorin Volskundemuseum, Margit Horvath-Suntinger, Kuratorin der Ausstellung, Michaela Steinböck-Köhler, Leiterin des Volkskundemuseums, Martina Edler, Sammlungskuratorin Volkskundemuseum
Josef Schrammel, kaufmänn. Direktor des Universalmuseums Joanneum, Margit Horvath-Suntinger, Kuratorin der Ausstellung, Marko Mele, wissenschafl. Direktor des Universalmuseums Joanneum und Michaela Steinböck-Köhler, Leiterin Abteilung Volkskunde
Foto: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek
Exhibition view of “Speaking Through Flowers: Stories of Giving” at the Folk Life Museum at the Paulustor
Photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek
Exhibition view of “Speaking Through Flowers: Stories of Giving” at the Folk Life Museum at the Paulustor
Photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek
Exhibition view of “Speaking Through Flowers: Stories of Giving” at the Folk Life Museum at the Paulustor
Photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek
Exhibition view of “Speaking Through Flowers: Stories of Giving” at the Folk Life Museum at the Paulustor
Photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek
Exhibition view of “Speaking Through Flowers: Stories of Giving” at the Folk Life Museum at the Paulustor
Photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek
Exhibition view of “Speaking Through Flowers: Stories of Giving” at the Folk Life Museum at the Paulustor
Photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek
Exhibition view of “Speaking Through Flowers: Stories of Giving” at the Folk Life Museum at the Paulustor
Photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek
Exhibition view of “Speaking Through Flowers: Stories of Giving” at the Folk Life Museum at the Paulustor
Photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek
Exhibition view of “Speaking Through Flowers: Stories of Giving” at the Folk Life Museum at the Paulustor
Photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek
Exhibition view of “Speaking Through Flowers: Stories of Giving” at the Folk Life Museum at the Paulustor
Photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek
Kunstinstallation „Forget-Me-Not / Vergissmeinnicht“ von Regula Dettwiler in der Antoniuskirche
Foto: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek © Bildrecht Wien, 2026
Art installation “Forget-Me-Not” by Regula Dettwiler
Photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek © Bildrecht Vienna, 2026
Art installation “Forget-Me-Not” by Regula Dettwiler
Photo: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek © Bildrecht Vienna, 2026
Kunstinstallation „Forget-Me-Not / Vergissmeinnicht“ von Regula Dettwiler in der Antoniuskirche
Foto: Universalmuseum Joanneum/J.J. Kucek © Bildrecht Wien, 2026
More images
Images
Legoblumenstrauß
Privatleihgabe; Foto: Universalmuseum Joanneum/N. Lackner
Miniaturpoesiealbum, Handschrift, geklebt, 1894, Fresing, Bezirk Leibnitz
Foto: Universalmuseum Joanneum/N. Lackner, volkskundliche Sammlung
Glückwunschkarte, Chromolithographie, 1873
Foto: Universalmuseum Joanneum/N. Lackner, volkskundliche Sammlung
Wallfahrts-Mitbringsel: Wachsstock, Stearin-Wachs gedreht und geformt, spätes 19. bis frühes 20. Jahrhundert
Foto: Universalmuseum Joanneum/N. Lackner, volkskundliche Sammlung
Viehschmuck „Klagkranzl“, Trockenblumen, 1961, Almabtrieb Prunnegtal in den Niederen Tauern, Bezirk Liezen
Foto: Universalmuseum Joanneum/N. Lackner, volkskundliche Sammlung
Namenstagsandenken, Stoff- und Papierblumen, Bouillindraht, Pailetten und bunten Glassteinen
Foto: Universalmuseum Joanneum/N. Lackner, Volkskundemuseum am Paulustor
Souvenirbecher, Glasbecher, handbemalt, zweite Hälfte 19. Jahrhundert, Graz
Foto: Universalmuseum Joanneum/N. Lackner, Volkskundemuseum am Paulustor
Foto: Universalmuseum Joanneum/N. Lackner
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