Submissions | VizChitra 2026
A Valen–Tied Affair of Love and the Environment
Manovki
Student•IIT Guwahati
Description
What it is Ever wondered whether a bouquet of roses is the right gift to win a lover’s heart? This project reimagines the Valentine’s Day bouquet as something built rather than bought; assembled piece by piece to reveal the environmental journeys folded into this gesture of love. Visitor experience Visitors build a bouquet of roses whilst understanding the meaning of each tangible data part therein. Each rose is divided into elements that carry its environmental story: petals represent carbon footprint; the five-sided flower head : 5 main countries from which the UK imports roses; segmented stems trace water and chemical inputs; and thorns, or stem markers, indicate pesticide exposure. Through touch and repetition, the pace slows. Visitors linger, count, and notice, encountering data as weight carried by love. Why data is central The bouquet takes its shape directly from data. Data determines form, proportion, and structure, transforming global figures into something that can be held and understood through touch. The question & context Around 250 million roses are sold worldwide every 14 February. When the Feast of Saint Valentine was declared in AD 496, such planetary consequences were unimaginable. Initially imagined in the Indian context, the project now focuses on the UK due to clearer trade and environmental data availability there. Why it fits Data, Otherwise Dormant in winter, February roses are grown out of season or far away, sustained by greenhouses, chemicals, refrigeration, and long journeys. The project focuses on more-than-human data: red roses, water, chemicals, and climate and leaves the participant questioning about the choice of valentine gift.
Data Source
The project draws on quantitative and contextual data related to the Valentine’s Day rose supply chain. This includes numerical data on carbon footprints per rose and per bouquet, water and chemical inputs in commercial rose cultivation, UK and global trade and import statistics, and evidence of pesticide residues on imported cut flowers.
Carbon footprint data is synthesised from publicly available lifecycle assessments and UK consumer-facing analyses, including reports by Fairtrade International, Wageningen University & Research, and UK-based sustainability analyses (e.g. Alectro). Trade and import data comes from UN Comtrade via the World Integrated Trade Solution. Information on pesticide exposure is drawn from testing and reporting by PAN Europe, as reported by The Guardian.
All data is gathered through desk research of open, publicly accessible sources and translated into physical units that directly shape the form of the bouquet.
Technical Requirements
The installation requires a flat surface such as a table or low plinth to display and assemble the bouquet, along with sufficient surrounding space for 3–5 visitors to gather and interact simultaneously. A small vertical panel or wall space is needed to display the legend explaining the data mappings. Basic ambient lighting is sufficient, though focused overhead lighting would help in reading legend.
Project Status & Timeline
This is a new project currently in the design and prototyping phase. The conceptual framework, data sources, and visualisation logic have been established, and the work is structured to be lightweight and modular. Following selection, the project can be completed within the exhibition schedule. The first phase will involve finalising datasets and material specifications (3-4 days), followed by fabrication and assembly of modular components (1-2 weeks). Final testing and refinement will take place in the weeks leading up to installation. The installation itself is straightforward and can be completed on-site within a few hours.