Rock'n'roll flower compositions
- Chiara sees flower arrangements as part of interior design
- Her style has a touch of rock’n’roll and vintage from the 1950s
- She loves to match flowers with urban and contemporary materials
Daughter of painter and sculptor Bruno Sapiente, Chiara Sapiente was born into art. From her father she has inherited a sense of beauty and the love for colour, but she has found her own medium for expressing them – flowers and plants. “I have been in love with greenery since I was a teenager,” she says. “At 13, I worked in a flower shop where they paid me in succulents.” Growing up, Chiara found a job at Frida’s, a flower store with many shops in Italy. There she understood that retail was not her cup of tea: events and installations were far more exciting to her. That is why in 2014 she opened up her own floral studio, Sfumature di cipria (Shades of powder), a name inspired by her passion for vintage style, rock’n’roll and the 1950s.
Interview
- What is the link between flowers and rock’n’roll?
- Rock does not necessarily have to be hard and rough. To me, it is synonymous with strength, retro-style and femininity. My approach to floral design is exactly like this. It reflects my personality, as I am more urban and contemporary than romantic or bucolic.
- Do you have a favourite colour palette and a favourite flower?
- Of course I love powder pink, the one with a hint of black in it, as it is the most versatile and neutral of hues. For the same reason, I very often use carnations in my works, as they are a real passe-partout, adaptable, multi-coloured and long-lasting.
- Are your creations influenced by the place they are intended for?
- Definitely. To me, flowers are not only flowers, they are designs. They never go alone. They always interact with other objects, even with furniture. Sometimes, to enhance a floral installation, all you need to do is move a chair. Nothing is left to chance.
- Do you ever match flowers with uncommon materials?
- Working by affinity is easier, but playing with contrasts is much more challenging and interesting. That is why I love to experiment with any materials that inspire me. Plexiglas, for example, has lots of potential. The same for concrete, which provides the nicest of contrasts with gentle flowers.
Chiara Sapiente is a master artisan: she began her career in 2008 and she started teaching in 2010
Where
Chiara Sapiente
