Bas Kosters ‘The New Fashion Victim’
I am a sucker for plants; I love them and cherish them. Every now and then I pick up an orphan plant from the streets, one that is neglected, almost dying and left with the garbage. Some of my plants have been with with me already for ten years, and from my most favourite plant I take cuttings and plant them to grow them into baby plants to gift to friends and share the joy. I even have some plant friends with whom we share plant cuttings – it is a great hobby. I was going trough some artist portfolios recently and noticed that the houseplant has become THE partner to accompany your design or fashion in a stylish presentation picture.
Here is why: Last year the houseplant made an enormous revival, especially cacti. In every shop in the city they are used as décor, and interior magazines are full of loosely put together groups of plants in robust pottery, like they have always been there. But they have not. In the ’70s houseplants were a normal part of your interior; in later decades they were not. But now the houseplant has become the newest craze to express our global individuality. Because we are sensitive individuals who own a nonchalant group of loosely put together plants and cacti in robust pottery. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing bad about owning a plant, but what happens when the houseplant trend fades away, what will happens to all these plants? Will they end up on the street? Or will they remain with their owners? They might have to make room for a group of trendy ’80s white ceramic cat trinkets, or a framed vintage Vogue magazine. I fear that the houseplant therefore might become the next ‘fashion victim’. But do not fear, I will pick you up from the street and cherish you, like a little green baby.
