The Surrealist Floral Works of Melbourne Artist Hattie Molloy

Name:
Delsey Paris x VISUALPLEASURE
NEW HORIZONS - WORLD TOUR 2024
Melbourne/ VIC Artist of the week - Hattie Molloy
Photography:
Hattie Molloy
Words:
Erica Nichols

With an instinctive approach to design, Melbourne-based artist Hattie Molloy creates floral installations that tow the line between reality and surrealism, inviting viewers into an ethereal world of flowers that embraces the unconventional. Learn more about her process and how her skills as a photographer, product designer, and creative director blend together to create a vision unlike any other.

VISUAL PLEASURE Magazine:
How would you describe your art and how did you develop your artistic style?
Hattie Molloy: I think my practice is a true extension of myself. It’s what I’m instinctively drawn to. The way I developed my style was to play and experiment. I didn’t rely on paid jobs to push myself. I still, to this day, put time into progressing my style forward by experimenting and playing outside of commercial work. That's the biggest key for me.

What do you love most about floral and object design?
The ephemeral nature of flowers and botanical elements is what I love. They evoke emotive responses with people that take them back to key times in their life. Designing vases and vessels has been an extension of that. I like to design vases that are easy for people to use and give structure to flowers.

How does place or environment impact your creations, specifically with installation work?
I always like to design with the space at top of mind. How does it interact with its surroundings? How will people move through the space and draw into the installation? I want people to go up and touch and smell. Flowers can truly transform a space and bring it to life.

“I think my practice is a true extension of myself. It’s what I’m instinctively drawn to. The way I developed my style was to play and experiment.”

Where do you pull inspiration from? Are there any local sights, places, shops, or artists that inspire you in Melbourne?
I always love going to visit gardens or plant growers. That's when I feel my mind is free and not consumed by the day-to-day grind. When I feel I have space to think and dream, that's when I feel inspired. Seeing nature in its wild form, I then see how I can change and alter the composition of the materials. I don’t want to try and recreate nature because I can never compete with that. Mother Nature gets it right every time.

Texture, color, shape — all seem to find such harmony in your work. Are you mindful of that?
To be honest it’s something I find very hard to break down and explain to people. When I work I feel as if I don’t really think about those things. It’s more of a meditative state that I play in. It all comes very naturally and instinctively to me. I would say I think it’s important to have balance with flowers. Perfect pristine flowers I find sickly sweet, so I always incorporate something weird and wonderful to balance it out.

What flowers do you find yourself always going back to? Any that give you the biggest challenge or greatest reward?
It’s like asking a mother to pick her favorite child! I find it so hard to choose. Judy’s clematis farm has a very special spot in my heart. I love clematis, there are so many different shapes and forms. The flowers are insanely beautiful, but what I love most is their seed pods. They look as if they belong in a Dr. Seuss novel.

How does travel impact your work and world view as an artist? Any specific travel stories that have stayed with you or informed your work?
HM: I love to travel, but I’m always drawn back to Japan as a place that leaves me the most inspired. I love how detailed and considerate they are when it comes to design, in so many aspects of life and culture. There is a deep appreciation within their society for craftsmanship and art.

Do you think art and exploration go hand-in-hand?
I think you always expand from new experiences which is how you grow as an artist as well as a person. Exploration is key for me. I’m always curious and that drives my practice to evolve.