Alexandre Delasalle's collection of wooden furniture shapes a curious living room on a faux grass floor - an installation gathering a selection of pieces from the Plush Garden Dining Room Series to create a botanical haven.
the imagery of plants and cuteness
The Plush Garden series explores the connection between images of nature and depictions of cuteness, as they are known to cause similar hormonal responses by viewers. Each piece examines the potential of the non-threatening, cartoonish representations of nature commonly found in popular visual culture to serve as a virtual source of comfort in our contemporary surroundings.
new hormonal instruments
Images of nature, such as printed pictures, sculptures, and ornaments, are ubiquitous in the human environment, triggering strong, positive hormonal reactions. According to Hiroshi Nittono and Namiha Ihara in their study "Psychophysiological Responses to Kawaii Pictures with or without Baby Schema," similar principles apply to people exposed to cute or "kawaii" images.
There is a growing trend in popular culture of comforting depictions of harmless ecosystems, and this formal vocabulary may be a new instrument for well-being in domestic spaces.
an elementary yet plural visual vocabulary
Alexandre Delasalle associates playful patterns with furniture of exaggerated, cartoon-like forms - blending visual elements inspired by children's dollhouses, biophilic design, 17th-century home decor, video games, and public kindergartens to create a twisted botanical haven.