“I am a storyteller”
 

Above all, he’s a storyteller. Floral designer Johan Martens (born 1962) can certainly enjoy a wellcrafted arrangement. But he is interested in 'more'. He likes to tell a story, engender an atmosphere and create the complete ‘picture’.

Thus the man who first attended horticultural college in Venlo and then completed his Master’s course in Vught looks back with great satisfaction to a Christmas show for florists which he arranged. An enormous hall that was transformed into a mini Champs-Élysées in the Paris of a century ago, complete with window displays with ladies’ fashions, atmospheric streetlights, delivery bicycles and a genuine accordionist. "It is important that all the details are right." He adopts the same approach when competing in international competitions.

'Open mind'

Johan speaks English and German and can get by in French. After a period as a flower arranger at Hai Ebus and Niza, amongst others, he spent several years as an independent florist and owner of a garden centre. Since 1997 he has been working as a freelance arranger. A walk in the woods inspires him at least as much as a walk in town. If you approach life with an open mind you can gain inspiration from everywhere: that is his philosophy.

Underwater world

And under water, of course! Johan obtained his diving certificate several years ago. He likes to use his rare spare time to gain fresh ideas from the colours and shapes of the underwater world. He considers his specialism to be working with flowers and plants in the broadest sense of the word. Whereby he is more of a 'doer' than a ‘talker’. Partly because he is always looking for the story behind it, of course. He has found that those stories vary from country to country. Over the years he has visited all the major countries in Europe in a professional capacity. In Spain he provided the floral work for a royal wedding.

Orchids

He is always looking for new ways of make people realise that flowers and plants can provide colour, energy, strength, comfort, inspiration and peace in your life every day and at any time. Johan himself gets particular inspiration from the orchids which he always has in his home. "The shape fascinates me, as does the method of growing. Virtually without soil, just a bit of water. And they offer unequalled possibilities. So I use them often."