Archival Giclée Pigment Print on Archival Paper
Limited Edition of 5
35.5 x 26 in
90 x 66 cm
US $ 2,400
In this image from John Stathatos’ Arboretum series, the vast interior of Kew Gardens' Palm Court greenhouse unfolds with a commanding symmetry, offering a higher vantage point that emphasizes the grandeur and order of its design. The towering glass arches and intricate iron framework form a protective shell, while the vacant plant beds below lie exposed, awaiting the return of life. The spiral staircase at the center appears almost surreal, a lone vertical structure amidst the horizontal expanse, leading the eye upward and enhancing the cathedral-like atmosphere of the space.
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In this image from John Stathatos’ Arboretum series, the vast interior of Kew Gardens' Palm Court greenhouse unfolds with a commanding symmetry, offering a higher vantage point that emphasizes the grandeur and order of its design. The towering glass arches and intricate iron framework form a protective shell, while the vacant plant beds below lie exposed, awaiting the return of life. The spiral staircase at the center appears almost surreal, a lone vertical structure amidst the horizontal expanse, leading the eye upward and enhancing the cathedral-like atmosphere of the space.
The emptiness within these confines highlights the greenhouse as a pure architectural form, temporarily detached from its intended function. Stripped of its lush vegetation, the space feels suspended in time, inviting reflection on humanity’s ambition to tame and enclose nature. The monochromatic palette intensifies the sense of timelessness, rendering the greenhouse as both a relic of Victorian ingenuity and a modern sanctuary, emphasizing lines, light, and structure over color and growth.
Stathatos’s approach to this moment of renovation transforms the greenhouse from a nurturing environment into an introspective space, where the absence of flora amplifies the presence of architectural details. The repeating patterns of glass and iron create a rhythmic harmony, inviting the viewer to consider the delicate balance between human intervention and the natural world. This image captures not only a building in transition but also the silent persistence of an iconic structure, poised to once again fulfill its purpose within a cycle of renewal.