Giving You Flowers Every Day

In Giving You Flowers Every Day (2025), Ian Berry takes the simple act of giving someone flowers and turns it into something that feels much more lasting. Made entirely from denim, the work shows how an everyday material can be transformed into something delicate and full of emotion. It was one of the first works Ian made in this new series of tiled works, marking a new era in his practice as he began creating and embracing the garden as an artistic concept.

The composition is filled with flowers, leaves and stems, all in different shades of blue. Roses, dahlias and other flowers appear to grow out of the vase, creating a sense of abundance. The blue-and-white colour scheme also brings to mind traditional porcelain and botanical illustrations, giving the work a familiar yet timeless feeling. There is an interesting contrast between the flowers and the denim. Flowers are naturally fragile and temporary — they bloom and eventually fade. Denim, however, is strong and durable. By making the flowers from denim, Berry gives them a sense of permanence. They can no longer wilt or disappear.

The work is made up of many small pieces of denim, carefully cut and placed to create the flowers, leaves, shadows and details. From a distance, it almost looks like a painting, but when viewed more closely, the individual pieces and seams become visible. This makes the process of making the work part of its beauty. The tiled grid adds another layer to the image. It divides the composition into sections, while the flowers continue across the lines, giving the impression of different moments coming together. It almost feels like a collection of memories built up over time.

The title, Giving You Flowers Every Day, keeps the meaning of the work simple. It suggests that love is not only found in grand gestures, but also in small things that are repeated every day. The flowers become a symbol of affection, care and appreciation. What makes the work particularly touching is the way Berry takes something that normally does not last and gives it a new life. The flowers may be made from old denim, but they still carry the feeling of something fresh and alive — a gesture of love that can be given again and again.

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