New York, NY
Follow me on instagram: @lucasstoffel
In my latest series, Kaleidoscopic Blooms, I delve deep into the world of Japanese floral motifs, transforming centuries-old traditions into a contemporary visual experience. Drawing inspiration from the elaborate flower patterns worn by Kyoto geishas, this series reimagines the elegance of Japanese art through a kaleidoscopic lens. The paintings capture the delicate beauty of cherry blossoms, peonies, and chrysanthemums—each element meticulously refracted and rearranged to create stunning new patterns that explore the boundaries of abstraction and symmetry.
But these five paintings are only the beginning of the story.
A Multisensory Experience
Bloom is not just a collection of paintings; it's an immersive installation that invites viewers to step into a blooming world of color and movement. Each painting is displayed alongside its digital counterpart—a moving kaleidoscope that loops the refracted patterns in an endless dance of transformation. The digital projections capture the essence of the paintings and bring them to life in a way that traditional media alone cannot. Patterns morph, bloom, and dissolve in an ever-changing loop, creating a living artwork that is constantly evolving before the viewer's eyes.
To enhance the experience, 8-foot silk fabrics, printed with the same patterns found in the paintings, hang from the ceiling. These floating silks invite viewers to move through the space, interacting with the delicate, flowing materials as they are enveloped in the imagery. The silks echo the painted and digital forms, creating a bridge between the physical and the ephemeral, the static and the dynamic.
Tradition and Modernity in Dialogue
At the heart of Bloom is a conversation between tradition and modernity. The floral patterns I’ve used are deeply rooted in Japanese culture, often seen in kimonos worn by geishas as they glide gracefully through the streets of Kyoto. These motifs carry centuries of history, symbolism, and cultural significance. Yet, by fracturing and recombining these images through a kaleidoscope, I’ve sought to create something new—patterns that speak to both the past and the present.
The digital element adds yet another layer of contemporary relevance. By integrating technology into the experience, I can manipulate these traditional patterns in ways that would be impossible with paint alone. The continuously looping kaleidoscope animation offers a never-ending bloom—an embodiment of the idea that beauty is both transient and eternal, constantly changing yet forever present.
The Art of Immersion
With this series, I aim to go beyond the canvas and create an immersive, multisensory experience that engages the viewer in new ways. The combination of traditional painting, digital animation, and tactile silk fabrics invites viewers to interact with the artwork, not just as observers, but as participants in the unfolding of the visual story.
Bloom is an invitation to enter a world of blossoming beauty, where the boundaries between art, technology, and the viewer blur. By combining elements of Japanese tradition with modern techniques, this series creates a unique experience that is at once rooted in history and pushing the boundaries of contemporary art.
This installation is not just about viewing art; it’s about experiencing it—stepping into a space where every element works in harmony to transport you to a world of color, movement, and endless blooming.
