Zoe Bradley + Galeria Melissa: Neon Garden

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A large suspended Lotus sculpture features alongside a kaleidoscopic floral animation in the entrance area. As the viewer continues their journey downstairs, they enter into a garden oasis where the walls are covered in large-scale topiary and a large central Lotus sculpture slowly rotates on a floor plinth, echoing its motion upon the ripples of a pond.

Located in the heart of Covent Garden, Galeria Melissa is the perfect venue for this floral spectacle, which was once home to the original flower market.

Celebrating the spirit of Melissa’s AW17 FLYGRL footwear and accessories collection that champions femininity, Zoe stated that she ‘wanted to create an exotic garden. Celebrating the feminine, architectural forms of flowers.’

A selection of Roses, Lotus, Cherry Blossoms, Dahlia and Fuchsia have been hand-sculpted in her signature iridescent papers with the introduction of a newly launched paper by G.F Smith, Pastel Heart Attack as the hero colour: an eye catching day glow hot neon.

Bradley quotes: ‘It was important that the scale of the garden was oversized so the spectator is engulfed by the petals towering above them, giving them a sense of escapism and childlike wonder. I was inspired by the visionary director Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and his play with scale of the landscape and characters.’

The hot neon colour underpins the floral textile with Bradley introducing other colourful papers such as fuchsia pink, pastel lilacs and deep plum which all open and bloom into a kaleidoscopic explosion of colour.

The Lotus flower is the ‘hero’ flower of the piece and was used to give the floral textile and accompanying animated film the narrative behind the installation.

This focal flower has come to be associated with purity and beauty in the religions of Buddhism and Hinduism. The pink Lotus flower is the supreme lotus and is considered the be the true lotus of Buddha.

‘I thought it was very interesting how the open flower and the unopened Lotus bud forms are associated with human traits. The unopened bud is representative of a folded soul that has the ability to unfold and open itself up.’

‘I hope the Lotus in the entrance attracts the passing public to investigate further. I want them to come into Galeria Melissa and be immersed in these large beautiful flowers. I want people to step inside from the hectic movement of the Piazza and get a little lost in the moment,’ concludes Bradley.

Please Note Opening Night RSVP and Invite Only