I’ve never been one for words – that’s why I danced [King studied dance in New York City]. I have always chosen visual art forms where I can express myself without needing to articulate what I’m feeling.
On Instagram, I often use the dying-rose emoji when I don’t know what to say. I’m attracted to florals that are withering, because they’re vulnerable, so my treasured object is a little sculpture of a wilted flower by an artist called Tage Andersen.
I was in Copenhagen with friends last June for 3daysofdesign; we had some time to kill and went into his divine labyrinth of a store. I found the flower and said, ‘Oh my god, I have to have this’ – it was the emoji come to life! It’s very fragile and I remember its journey back with me, which makes it so special.
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Right now, it’s living on my desk with a little rock and a bowl, but it has previously been on some open shelves in my kitchen. Arranging things is a daily practice for me – it’s the easiest way to get out of myself and shift my perspective so nothing feels stagnant.
The rose has a lot of meaning because it evokes a memory of the maker but also of nature in its purest form, frozen right before it expires. It inspires my work, forcing me to see the beauty in all forms of life, from a bud to a full bloom to a flower on its way out. Tage has Alzheimer’s now, but he’s still making things. I talked to his shopkeeper and they said: ‘He’s in his own world, we just let him be.’ He’s still creating, and there’s something beautiful about that. colinking.com
