ARTISTIC DESIGN RESEARCH ON POST-FUNERAL FLORAL WASTE BASED ON EMOTIONAL AND SYMBOLIC NARRATIVES

Abstract

Against the backdrop of sustainable design and material regeneration becoming increasingly important in the fields of design and art, the rapid growth of the floral industry and various ceremonial activities has led to a continuous increase in flower consumption, accompanied by the growing problem of floral waste disposal. Existing research has mainly focused on material technologies and product functionality, while paying limited attention to the specific contexts in which discarded flowers originate. In response to this gap, this study focuses on post-funeral floral waste, a category of material that, although discarded after ritual use, still retains emotional, symbolic, and cultural significance.

Grounded in the principles of sustainable design and the circular economy, this study constructs an analytical framework based on three dimensions: context of origin, material properties, and reuse pathways. Drawing on material aesthetics and the concept of mono no aware, it explores how post-funeral floral waste can be transformed into commemorative design objects that extend both the material life and emotional significance of funeral flowers.

This research adopts a practice-led mixed-methods approach, including theoretical analysis, empirical research, material experimentation, and design practice. Fieldwork was conducted in Kunming through interviews and questionnaires to investigate funeral floral usage, disposal practices, and public attitudes toward reuse. Low-energy material experiments were then carried out using flowers commonly found in funeral ceremonies, and selected materials were applied in the design of commemorative products such as fragrant bead bracelets, incense sticks, and incense holders.

The findings indicate that post-funeral floral waste should not be understood merely as ordinary organic waste, but as a form of contextual material with ritual origin, emotional attributes, and symbolic value. Through low-energy processing and appropriate design strategies, such materials can be transformed into commemorative objects that align with public expectations under certain conditions. The study also finds that public acceptance of this type of reuse is conditional, particularly in relation to emotional appropriateness, cultural sensitivity, and contextual respect. These findings confirm that the symbolic and emotional value of funeral flowers can be extended through sustainable design and suggest the potential for their integration into future memorial and funeral service systems.

More importantly, this study highlights the design potential of culturally and emotionally sensitive materials and provides a reference for research on post-ceremonial material reuse, emotional design, and sustainable commemorative practices. At the same time, it proposes a shift from material recycling to meaning regeneration, whereby design transforms contextually discarded materials into emotionally and culturally sustainable systems.

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