Sakul Intakul - Tropical Colors: The Art of Living with Tropical Flowers

UNDERWATER ALLURE

New territory is being explored in tropical floral art as water is elevated from a life-sustaining element to a display medium. Blooms and foliage are plunged below the waterline in translucent vessels, revealing another dimension in floral creativity one that can be appreciated from a multitude of angles. The resulting dynamic offers simple floral solutions for any space, from large public installations to intimate table settings. Subtle reflections of the subjects within, whether a riotous glory lily or the understated crown flower, provide a delicate interplay of light and color with the surroundings. Further appeal, and an element of surprise, is added by the mist-like pockets of air trapped in the fine filaments of leaves and flowers.

Floor-to-ceiling windows reinforce the feeling of translucency that flows throughout Raymond Eaton's home. The central courtyard pool further merges interior and exterior boundaries, while flickering candles float above elegant curcuma stems and lend an air of intimacy to the grand scale of the setting.

TANK ART

Single tropical blooms suspended by wire and anchored by stones in large acrylic or glass vessels can make a dramatic statement in any home. The texture and thickness of a flower determines its suitability for submersion. Flowers and stems with thick, waxy petals that are not easily bruised are ideal, though experimentation is recommended. Composition is as vital below the waterline as it is above. Space is the key A rhythmic use of voids in and around a flower can magnify its presence, whereas overcrowding may literally drown it. Balance, movement, line and repetition should all be considered when creating a harmonious yet distinctive display.

Rims of fire appear to float above the black granite flooring in this dramatic entranceway. Top-down lighting illuminates the pebble-lined bases of the custom-designed acrylic tanks in which tiny pink curcuma rise up to meet floating candles. Reflections from the glass-lined corridor magnify the effect of a gallery space.

Stainless steel tubing appears to be freestanding in this arrangement placed in a sandstone niche. Intensely colored cattleya blooms peer out from the metallic folds which, along with the curved line of the phormium leaf, are inspired by the Japanese obi (sash).

A welcoming committee of trimmed orchid leaves pierced by miniature green cymbidiums stands to attention in an understated entrance hall. The flowers are fastened at the back of the spathoglotis leaves with pins. The floating leaves are anchored with stones.

IN UNISON

Water is a voluminous frame that elevates even the most generic blossom to exhibition status. Detached but not disconnected, the repetition of the same bloom across an array of identical vessels creates an effortless formality and rhythm that flows in and around the entire arrangement. While order is imposed on the flowers, the result is far from monotonous as subtle variations are revealed and differing heights add movement to the overall composition. The containers remain plain and standardized so as not to compete with the subjects within. The subtle play of light and color adds further intrigue to each stem, secure in its own watery world.

Boundaries blur as a rhythmic line of pink curcuma, also known as Siamese tulips, appear to emerge from the watery depths. The varied heights and positions of the bracts add to this illusion.

The reptilian form of the bracts of Tillandsia cyanea, commonly called pink quill, gently spinning on their axes, contrasts with the cylindrical vases and tubular table frame. The lime to pink transition offsets the atmospheric hues of the surrounding surfaces.

Angelfish make a dramatic and dynamic addition to this linear array of green and white curcuma. This is not only a stunning decorative idea but will, no doubt, be a talking point when entertaining. The fish, of course, need to be returned to their permanent and, hopefully, larger home when your guests leave. The arrangement is easily replicated using other tropical plants and fish.

Creating a strong sense of procession, submerged glory lilies lead to the inner sanctums of this home. Encased in round glass bowls, the vivid red, yellow and lime flame-shaped petals are a perfect complement to the black granite flooring below. Each flower is anchored with wire to a beautiful white river stone, providing further color contrast.

Encased in an orderly display of glass, these glory lilies at first appear to be identical. Closer inspection, however, reveals the age of each bloom: lime green centers emerge from younger flowers while a deep reddish-orange hue suffuses older neighbors.

Purple crown flowers are entwined in this aqueous copper wire nest. The fluidity of the floral arrangement is in stark contrast to the structured lines of the adjacent wire frame chair, table and lampstand. The irregular surface detail on the glass container provides its own twist to the design.

SUNKEN TREASURES

Lending a metallic edge to modern floral design, two utilitarian products normally associated with industrial applications have entered the realm of aesthetics. Coiled copper wire and standard mesh wire not only make innovative and unusual supporting materials for what is essentially a feminine subject, but also inject an elemental contrast with the surrounding water. Malleable copper takes on a form of its own when shaped and massed below the surface, anchoring and gilding delicate blooms. Mesh wire is transformed into elegant, reusable weights that not only protect the precious blooms within but provide an alluring framework.