Flowers and autumn fruits in high-tech metal vases. The combination of "cold" steel texture, the correctness of the shape of the vessels and "imperfect" living plants

Passing the gallery

Text: Maria Kriger

A photo: Alyona Polosukhina

Florist: Stas Zubov

Magazine: N11 (56) 2001

High tech. Even in the consonance, something metallic is heard. No wonder because хай-тек - this is the "style of the future", the style of "great achievements" in science and technology, and primarily in the field of high technologies (high-tech: from English high technologies, which means "high technology"). Its basis is constructiveness, straightness, purity and, perhaps, some "sterility" of lines and forms. Even the most common radio set, made in the "high-tech" way, begins to seem like some kind of incredible miracle of technology. A vivid imagination seeks to add to this “high design” the people of the future, to match it: tall and beautiful, honest and cheerful, in tight-fitting shiny costumes. In this future, Gagarin will never untie the string, while Marilyn Monroe will not take off the hem of her dress from the wind. And the flowers of the future? How will they feel in this perfectly rectilinear world? At first glance, it seems that cold steel vases, striking the correctness of the shape and mirror surface, and live flowers are “incompatible things”. But the first impression, as is known, is often deceptive. In the compositions created by Stas Zubov (the school of florists "Nicole"), flowers and autumn fruits perfectly coexist with metal vases made in the high-tech style. The dominant concept here is form. Subject to her and subtly prickly chrysanthemums, and pompous gladioli, and banal village squash. If flowers look great in the form of a motley "vinaigrette" bouquet in a simple faience vase, then this is out of the question. Each turn is verified, each "gesture" is ordered. Each participant in the performance clearly knows its place and unquestioningly obeys the laws of this ideally-closed world. All the characters lined up in pairs, made "smart faces" and froze in silent anticipation. This is a small fantasy performance on hi-tech. The transparent pyramidal design of autumn flowers resembles an intergalactic aircraft, ready for launch, and the composition of wave-like vases seems like a cherished city of the future, straight from the novels of science fiction writers. A plum branch, a piece of handmade paper with torn edges, frivolous bird feathers only emphasize the general correctness and "tightness" of the compositions, highlighting this perfect world with its "non-ideal" beauty.