FLOWER POWER
Francis Bacon declared the garden “the purest of human pleasures”. To delight in nature and organise some small part of it has been seen through the ages as a godly pursuit. “Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul”, says the Koran. Even among the secular gardening is revered :“The best thing one can do is to cultivate one's garden.” – Voltaire.
For artists flowers have provided unlimited inspiration – from the religious or moral symbolism of the 17th century Dutch and Flemish artists to the impressionists and Monet's sensuous immersion in a moment.
A beautiful printed floral design on a perfectly matched cloth engages the eye and leads it effortlessly through a series of spaces, stopping from time to time, bending this way and that – tracing and moving through the repeat, enjoying the chance to freewheel and explore. It provides a route towards reflection and an opportunity to find, in this utterly private reflection, a transformational aesthetic experience. The aesthetic is crucial to our wellbeing: we have all had our breath taken away by the sheer beauty of a landscape, a satisfying planting, a perfect fabric, poem or piece of music. This response to beauty is at the heart of our emotional health, allowing us to withdraw from the purely intellectual.
Image: Sycamore & Oak Wallpaper, Wild Rose © Sanderson. Image above: Sanderson x Damian Foxe AD Campaign
One such brand, Sanderson, founded in 1860, is one of the most renowned to constantly reinvent the timeless floral. Now under the umbrella of the Sanderson Design Group, their timeless interior textiles and wallpapers with hand-drawn patterns and bold reinterpretations from a historic archive, continue to provide a touch of nature.
Embracing nostalgia, while moving ever forward, acclaimed photographer and visual artist, Damian Foxe, has refocused his expert lens on the intricate beauty of our timeless designs.
In a bold campaign that draws on our enduring legacy for iconic florals, this exciting collaboration has reimagined the ways in which we interpret our infamous patterns and prints. In a series of photographs, Damian has captured the notable history and endless permutations of memorable designs from past and present. Hero prints reflect a newness through Damian’s direction, delighting curious design minds and aficionados alike.
Image: Rose & Peony Fabric, (Red Cotton) © Sanderson.
Pink and green dance in couture movements, around the model as she wears our designs boldly. Unfettered by expectations of traditional layering, Chinese Lantern drapes with a billowy peach blossom presence as Rose & Peony holds its ground in this opulent setting with the bold redness of the flowerheads bursting through. It is Stapleton Park that stands proudly in the fore and background, the luxury of the olive hue taking centre stage, playing with traditional richness and a new modern edge.
Image: Sycamore & Oak Wallpaper, Wild Rose © Sanderson.
Redefining Sanderson for a new era, this project paves the way for dynamic reinterpretations of layering our prints and patterns in the home. It is classicism with a twist, history honed for curious design eyes, and a celebration of all that is Sanderson, blended beautifully in a way that respects the past and embraces the future.
Find out more:
sanderson.sandersondesigngroup.com
Read more on florals and Indian chintz in the Selvedge article:
Selvedge issue 6: Blossom covers all things blossom, including The Perennial: The English Floral Fabric.
Selvedge issue 52: Botanical which explores in what ways nature provides the raw materials for many textiles and also abundant inspiration for their adornment.
Selvedge issue 64: Ageless includes an article about Toile de Jouy, a linen printedwith romantic, pastoral patterns in a single color