Claudia Tararache brought to life a bold floral demonstration that reimagines Valentine’s Day through the chaotic romance of the Joker and Harley Quinn, exploring love beyond tradition. Titled Love is a Riot, the collection challenged classic narratives, embracing complexity, contrast, and emotion while showcasing the versatility of Porta Nova Red Naomi roses as symbols of layered, modern love.
We love how this demonstration completely reimagined Valentine’s Day through the eyes of the Joker and Harley Quinn. What was it about this ‘confused love’ that made you want to break away from traditional romantic floristry?
For me, love is not always soft, predictable, or well-behaved. The Joker and Harley Quinn represent a form of love that is intense and unstable, but they are only one facet of it.
I wanted to speak about love in a broader way: the love we have for family, for friends, and especially for ourselves. Because sometimes the real conflict is not between two people, but within us — between who we are and what we feel. This “confused love” is not just about chaos. It is about complexity. And to me, that is more honest than a perfect romantic image.
What name would you give these arrangements?
I would call this collection: “Love is a Riot.”
Because love is not only delicate… it can be protective, vulnerable, intense, and even contradictory. It exists in our relationships, but also within ourselves.
How do you balance such contrasting flowers and other materials so they complement each other, rather than compete with each other?
I don’t try to eliminate contrast, I design through it. Balance comes from the control of rhythm, groups, proportion, and placement.
Even the more aggressive elements, such as chains, cacti, or rigid structures, are positioned intentionally, so they support the movement of the flowers rather than dominate them. Flowers bring sensitivity and life. Materials bring tension and direction. When both are respected, they don’t compete — they complement each other and create dialogue.
Through ‘Love is a Riot’ What message did you want to send to other florists about the potential of the Porta Nova Red Naomi rose beyond the classic, normal romantic bouquet?
I wanted to show that the Red Naomi rose is not limited to a single story. For florists, this means freedom. The freedom to move beyond the classic romantic bouquet and explore new emotional territories. It can represent romantic love, but also self-love, resilience, and emotional strength. It can speak of connection, but also of independence.
For me, the Porta Nova Red Naomi rose becomes a symbol of these layers — not only something we give to someone else, but also something we carry within ourselves.
How can you describe the audience reaction during and after the event?
The reaction was intense, but also deeply emotional. From the beginning, I felt a strong sense of openness and curiosity from the audience, even though the work stepped away from what people usually expect from Valentine’s floral design.
What touched me the most was seeing how people connected from different parts of the world. It felt like the work resonated with people in different ways, and that was very moving for me. It was a very beautiful emotion, and I felt deeply grateful.
