Flora

by Nick Knight, Sandra Knapp

Celebrated photographer Nick Knight gives us a new view of flowers and plants in this dazzlingvolume. Astounded by the beauty of the pressed flowers and plants he saw at the herbarium of the Natural History Museum in London, Knight spent three and a half years choosing from among the museum’s six million specimens. Having selected 46 as the most visually arresting, he captures them here with his camera in a book as fresh as the greatest works of botanical art and illustration.Engaging commentaries by curator Sandra Knapp describe Knight’s choices. In his preface, Knight marvels at the variety of forms and “Some were like feathers of neon, breathtakingly delicate. . . others were like urban plans, architecturally precise . . . many were joyful splashes of color like children’s paintings, carefree, happy nonsense.”In Flora, the loveliness of the pressed plants and flowers, the graphic quality of the photographs, the elegance of the design, and the vividness of the color reproductions yield a sublime and stunning ensemble.

Genres: Art, Photography, Nonfiction

100 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1997

About the author

Nick Knight is among the world’s most influential and visionary photographers, and founder and director of award-winning fashion website SHOWstudio.com. As a fashion photographer, he has consistently challenged conventional notions of beauty and is fêted for his groundbreaking creative collaborations with leading designers including Yohji Yamamoto, John Galliano, Alexander McQueen. Advertising campaigns for the most prestigious clients such as Christian Dior, Lancôme, Swarovski, Levi Strauss, Calvin Klein or Yves Saint Laurent as well as award-winning editorial for W, British Vogue, Paris Vogue, Dazed & Confused, Another, Another Man and i-D magazines have consistently kept Knight at the vanguard of progressive image-making for the past three decades. His first book of photographs, Skinheads, was published in 1982. He has since produced Nicknight, a twelve year retrospective, and Flora, a series of flower pictures, both published by Schirmer Mosel. His work has been exhibited at such international art institutions as the Victoria & Albert Museum, Saatchi Gallery, the Photographers' Gallery and Hayward Gallery. In 1993, he also produced a permanent installation, Plant Power, for the Natural History Museum in London.

A long-standing commitment to experimenting with the latest technologies led to Knight launching his fashion website SHOWstudio in 2000, with an aim, in Knight's own words, of 'showing the entire creative process from conception to completion.' SHOWstudio has pioneered fashion film and is now recognised as the leading force behind this new medium, offering a unique platform to nurture and encourage fashion to engage with moving image in the digital age. Since its inception, SHOWstudio has worked with the world’s most sought-after filmmakers, writers and influential cultural figures to create visionary online content, exploring every facet of fashion through moving image, illustration, photography and the written word.

Knight lives with his wife and three children in London.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I checked this book out at my local library, as it was included on a list of books that had inspired the late English fashion designer Alexander McQueen and I was curious. The amazing images of all the plants included in this book are from the herbarium of The Natural History Museum in London, England. I am inspired enough to want to visit. There are 46 images to capture our imaginations through their colors, textures and designs, which exist in nature. My favorite is the double-page spread of the flamboyant pink: "Rhodophyta: Delesseria sanguine (Hudson) Lamouroux, Great Britain, collected by J.H Price, 25 May 1964."

[riri · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was recommended to me by my thesis instructor to inspire my senior project, & it was such a beautiful journey. nick knight is an incredible photographer & the graphic design is so well done.

[Karima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breathtaking!!!

[Haruna · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty book. very clearly photos, pressed flowers and leaves.