whole COLLECTION

In 2021 I made a decision to start working on the most sophisticated and important project for me at the time. And the theme would be how man-made and nature-born constructions repeat each other due to the use of the same physical laws that are true for our universe.

United States Capitol Building. Andy Feliciotti

Ernst Haeckel. Kunstformen der Natur

Illustrierte Garten Zeitung, 1864.
Biodiversity Heritage Library

Ernst Haeckel. Kunstformen der Natur

I intended to show how the world is a whole system, contrary to the philosophy which considers the works of man and nature as something radically different or even contradictory. Whether it’s the unconscious strainer of evolution or the rational human mind, they are fractally connected through the strict laws of life which make it possible for them to exist.

I found inspiration in early 20th century photographs by Karl Blossfeldt, one of pioneers of macro photography. Plants shot by him look so graphic and almost solid, as if they were sculptures.

St. Paul's Cathedral. Esther BeLer Wodrich

Ernst Haeckel. Kunstformen der Natur

J.L. Mott Iron Works. New York Public Library

Jan Vredeman De Vries. Perspective Drawings, 1604

Poppy. Magpie Mouse

Karl Blossfeldt

Autumn Chestnut Leaves. Jeff Friesen

But how to illustrate this unity, this likeness of architectural and natural? The answer came from my fascination with Edwardian jewelry. Made from platinum, it featured extremely delicate openwork ornaments that resembled plant veins and other natural textures.

A Belle Epoque pearl and diamond brooch, circa 1910. Bonhams.

Hydrangea petal. Peter Nijenhuis

Earrings. Lang Antiques

Basset & Moreau Diamond and Pearl Brooch, circa 1910. 1stDibs

A Belle Epoque diamond pendant, circa 1910

Diamond and platinum brooch, circa 1900. AC Silver Antiques

Dragonfly wings. Mark Quickshutter

Tree branches. Mythology of Blue

Physalis II. Brita Stein

Aquamarine and gold ring, circa 1915

When I said it was a sophisticated project, I meant exactly that. We haven’t even started talking about actual work — this was all concept development! Only after I put together those pieces of a puzzle I could sort my peferences and finally start sketching.

As the collection was based on Edwardian designs, the inspiration for the photoshoot also came from Edwardian era. The 1900s and the 1910s with their spiritism, early photography and first movies, obsession with everything otherwordly…

And I would definitely advise you to watch a few fantasy films from 1900s! Georges Melies directed his first fantasy films as early as in 1896, including the iconic "A Trip to the Moon" (1902). I took some inspiration from his "The Mermaid" (1904) and "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" (1909) by Charles Kent and J. Stuart Blackton.

It felt very logical to dive into an era when people widely believed technology didn’t drive them "further from God" (though some believed that too) but rather expanded the boundaries of the knowable, allowing people to connect with parts of universe that were hidden before. Sometimes this readiness to accept the strange and spiritual went even too far — google "The Cottingley Fairies" if you don’t know that story!