NETHERLANDS CELEBRATES DIVERSITY WITH FIELD COVERED IN MIRRORED FLOWERS

Ulrike Jurklies and Paul Bas of Studio Mo Man Tai showcased Reflecting Diverseness, a colourful installation consisting of 8,800 mirrored flowers produced from repurposed waste materials, during Dutch Design Week 2025. Together, the flowers, which stand for one in every 2,000 Dutch citizens, create a vibrant depiction of a highly varied and interwoven society. Mo Man Tai wanted to convey a message that was upbeat and welcoming when she came up with the installation's concept. The design team was able to elicit a strong and instant reaction from their audience by utilizing color and reflection to examine identity, connection, and the beauty of difference.

According to Jurklies, "it's easy to start a conversation with something lovely and pleasant." “When people are then surprised by the deeper story behind that beauty, a real dialogue begins.”

Using leftover acrylic mirror sheets, mirrored daisies, zinnias, cornflowers, and more were laser-cut and manually assembled. Based on 2024 data from Statistics Netherlands, the installation, which is housed at the Pennings Foundation in Eindhoven, is composed of 175 numbered boxes, each of which holds 50 flowers. Together, these boxes create a statistical cross-section of the Dutch population. Ripples of vibrant light travel around the room, swirling across the surrounding walls and floor as light strikes each petal at a slightly different angle.

The installation rapidly gained popularity on social media and was one of the most photographed pieces of Dutch Design Week. Many people travelled out of their way to witness the breathtaking field of flowers in person after discovering the installation on Instagram, according to the creators.

Beyond its initial context, Reflecting Diverseness is still thriving. In early 2026, a portion of the installation will be reinvented as an XXL bouquet and displayed at the FENIX Museum in Rotterdam.