Hanneke Frankema European Champion
Europa Cup Poland 2022: it's all in the details!
After years of preparation, the time had finally come: the Europa Cup. The crème de la crème of floral designers competed against each other for the European Champion title. 16 countries participated, each with a national champion as delegate.
Participants
Hanneke Frankema won the 2018 Dutch Championship and thus qualified for this special competition. The other 15 participants came from Romania, UK, Ukraine, Estonia, Belgium, Slovakia, South Korea, Hungary, Croatia, Switzerland, Israel, Armenia, Italy, Poland and Germany. The Europa Cup competition took place in Katowice, Poland.
Preparation
The participants were allowed to prepare and practise four tasks at home. There were several rules for participation. For example, the 1/3 - 2/3 rule, which has to do with the proportions between the floral work and the construction. Attention was paid to surplus, so that you do not order more flowers/plants than you expect to need. There are dimensions you have to meet; every centimetre larger can mean a deduction in points.
Assignments
For the first assignment they had to make a table with floral decoration for six people. The organic lines of Hanneke's table were enhanced by the characteristic wire mesh that curled through the design and held the specially designed water tubes in place.
Hanneke made the wirework at home: "They are four metres long. I couldn't make that length on my own, I had help from my mother. For days, we stood together with the drill, making wire." Hanneke chose flowers in warm tones: Gloriosa Fifty Shades, Clematis Amazing© Sevilla & Kyiv, Nerine, Nutans and Anthuriums.
Dancing in the rain
Assignment 2 was an installation in which 50% of the flowers had to be put in floral foam. Hanneke had designed a cast iron construction based on lotus flowers. The drop-shaped chandelier was filled with beautiful hand-blown glass drops that served as vases for the wealth of flowers. The foam was 'hidden' in the lotus shapes.
With matching vase
The third commission was a bouquet, for which Hanneke had made a frame with copper leaves. Terribly heavy, but a feast for the eyes. Filled with various flowers, such as Clematis Amazing© Miami, orchids, vandas and passion flower tendrils from her own garden.
Dancing Queen
Assignment 4, 'body decoration' was a complicated one, according to Hanneke: "We were sent a dance video, and had to make a bodice for the dancer in which she could move freely, and be lifted up by her dance partner."
The details in the piece are insanely beautiful. The bodice is made of Davalia roots, a type of fern. The edges were finished with wire and ironwork. Then she glued on the flowers. In total, she had 120 minutes to do the work. The attention to detail was also evident at the end, when Hanneke even took out a flashlight to check all the corners of her work.
Practice
Hanneke practiced each assignment at home three times with her mentor, and assistent for this competition, Max van de Sluis. On design, on time, on flower arrangements. Until the day of departure, adjustments were made. Five days before the competition, the flowers and constructions were carefully placed in a truck, driven by friends André and Erika: off to Poland!
Surprise
Not all assignments could be prepared. Assignment 5 was a surprise assignment; every participant received a metal frame and the same materials including: Phaleanopsis plants, flat moss, wire and Polygonum sticks.
Most participants immediately started with the sticks and used them to extend the frame. Hanneke did exactly the opposite and made a modest work, a basket of moss containing the plants, which seemed to float within the frame.
Final
On the evening of day two, all 16 participants sat tensely by the stage. The hosts of the show called out the names of the six finalists, who were allowed to walk onto the stage for the final task. This too was a surprise assignment. With tropical flowers and a square vase, the contestants could show their skills for the last time. Although it was not really in Hanneke's comfort zone ("I prefer round, not square") she got the highest points from the jury with her fan-shaped design.
The results
1st: Hanneke Frankema
2nd: Gabor Nagy (Hungary)
3rd: Micheal Liebrich (Germany)
4th: Nicu Bocancea (Romania)
5th: Stefan van Berlo (Belgium)
6th: Fabrizio Panone (Italy)
Personal note...
Ever since we first interviewed Hanneke (read here) we have been supporting her in her race to the European Championships. Due to the challenging time we are in, the championship had been moved from 2020 to 2022. We know that Hanneke has been preparing all this time. The tension during the Europa Cup was palpable, not only for Hanneke and partner Nico, but also in our bodies. Mentor Max van de Sluis remained amazingly calm during the competition: "I was sure that Hanneke was going to win. No doubt about it." Beautiful words, we gladly concur.
