Virgin in Bloom
Award-winning florist and runner-up of Netflix’s breakout series The Big Flower Fight, Yan Skates brings Virgin X’s ethereal world to life. The Danish master opens up about working with the London nightlife legend, what competing on reality TV is really like, and the missed opportunities because of COVID-19.
Interview by Joshua Graham Photography Matt Ford Floral set by Yan Skates Model Virgin X Glitter makeup by Millie Dollar Beauty Video by Maria Ridgway Shoot assistant Jake Turner
Corset and neck corset Misty Couture Bodysuit Amy Day
We love the shoot. It is a big step away from Virgin’s darker “religion meets kink” vibe. What was the inspiration for this project?
Virgin wanted something with a big floral production. Less dark and more uplifting and fun, different to what they normally do. With my flowers I’m very much led by the seasons, I like to go with what's happening outside at the moment.
When starting a collaborative project like this, how did you go about with your initial ideas and the direction you both wanted to go in?
Every shoot is unique. I enjoy collaborating and trying different styles. The more challenging the brief the better as far as I’m concerned. If anyone can come up with three random words and put them together and call that the brief, then I’m happy. For this one with Virgin, it was definitely about the sets. We talked about everything being one colour, and then got really obsessed with crumbled paper, which became part of it. Virgin gave me carte blanche to do anything really.
In my ideal world, each one of the photo shoots I work on would have a completely unique language, rather than trying to superimpose the “Yan” style in every single project. When I am doing weddings I tell my brides that I want the guests to walk in and say, “that's so you”, rather than' “that's so Yan Skates”. It’s about getting the person, or the event, or the shoot right. That's something I try really hard to do.
Beaded headpiece, dress, and veil by Magdalene Celeste
What about Virgin X made them a fun model to work with?
Virgin is cheeky, and so not serious about themselves. It was very relaxing, we had been talking and planning this for a long time and finally got to do it. It has been a completely stress free environment, chilled out and fun. I am hoping this is the first of many projects we work on together. I would love to work on a music video. It’s important to build long lasting relationships.
“In my ideal world, each one of the photo shoots I work on would have a completely unique language, rather than trying to superimpose the “Yan” style in every single project"
Your arrangements are very sculptural and out of this world. Where do you draw your inspiration from?
It changes on a daily basis really. Some days I might see a lump of clay and think “oh that could be something interesting”, or a walk in the woods and see a weird branch, or go see an interesting colour combination at an art exhibition. It could be anything really. Because my background is fine art, having gone to the Arts Academy in Denmark, I have that process in me; trying to think of things more conceptually. Really I am never happier than having a giant vase, a few bunches of flowers and a few hours to spend putting them together with nobody bothering me. That probably doesn't answer your question at all.
I think a lot of creative people are the same way, finding inspiration anywhere and everywhere.
Yes and going back to the idea of collaboration, I think I do better work when I have a starting point. I think that is why I throw myself in the deep end with weird things that I might not even really know what it's all about, for instance The Big Flower Fight.
Did you find the experience of having weekly challenges on The Big Flower Fight exciting?
It was exciting and it was nerve wracking, and every week things just got bigger and bigger. I liked it because there were a lot of people there and the challenges were very interesting. We had a lot of fun backstage. I spent most of my time running away from the cameras.
Where it all started to go downhill for me, was during episode 6. It became clear to me what it was really all about, making TV. When the crab fell over suddenly that was the only thing the show was interested in. They weren't actually interested in what we were doing. During filming they really wanted to push the fight element. Trying to force me and Henck to say something really competitive about Ryan and Andrew. When really we were just happy to be there, thinking we would just scrape by from week to week.
Corset Misty Couture Boots BeSpokeByChaCha Bodysuit by Amy Day
There was a bit of a rivalry between You/Henck and Andrew and Ryan. How do you think that affected your performance?
Not one bit. We were not focused on winning the whole thing. It was really just for the ride, the experience. We would say to each other, “I quite fancy seeing what we will do next week, let's see if we can stay for another week”. Then we got halfway through and thought “oh god might as well go the full way now”.
“It quickly became clear that it wasn’t necessarily about the visuals, but the story behind it that the judges were interested in.”
How has life been since the show has come out?
Because of the pandemic we couldn't go out and actually prove we can do these things. Since the show was streamed around the world, Henck and I got so many messages, especially from South America. We could have gone on a flower sculpture making tour; we had offers to go to Columbia and Mexico which we would have been very excited about. One of the things I said to Henck during the show was “whatever happens, however far we go, if anyone asks me to do something I am going to say yes to everything”.
Corset and neck corset Misty Couture Bodysuit Amy Day Boots BeSpokeByChaCha Tiara Hysteria Machine Gloves PATRICK McDOWELL Bodysuit Amy Day
I think that's great advice for everyone as we enter a new life outside of lockdown.
Up until filming The Big Flower Fight I had sort of gone off the idea of travelling. It is not really good for the environment, I have kind of seen it all anyway. But now, just put me on a cruise around the world.
As visual artists you open yourself up to critique, especially in a competition where you are compared to others. Do you have any advice on handling criticism of your craft?
I’ve been competing with flowers for about 10 years anyways so I have very thick skin. I don't really care what anyone says about me, or what I do unless it's someone I actually respect. Chitter-chatter does not bother me at all. I think it's about being confident in what you’re doing. One of my mottos is “if it's not fun, it should at least make money”.
Has competing on Netflix’s The Big Flower Fight changed your creative process at all?
No but I know what I would have done differently if I ever did TV again. I would definitely be playing it up for the camera. I had never seen myself on TV before, ever. And they don’t show us anything so you have no idea how you’ll come across. It was like media training. I probably would've been more filtered and fake.
If anything I would be a little more stubborn. There were a couple of design discussions me and Henck had where I didn’t stand my ground. But we were actually really good as a team because everytime we got the brief, one of us would have a really good idea and the other would be very supportive. I think that comes from the experience of doing event work where you have to get the job done in a certain timescale. You don’t sit around thinking which way to turn a petal, you just get on with it.
“One of the things I said to Henck during the show was “whatever happens, however far we go, if anyone asks me to do something I am going to say yes to everything”.”
Week after week you did amazing floral arrangements, what was the biggest challenge you had to face?
We were both completely shocked when we saw our orangutan. We thought it was the most unflattering pose, big and fat. That was a bit of a challenge. But it quickly became clear that it wasn’t necessarily about the visuals, but the story behind it that the judges were interested in.
I really didn’t enjoy the outdoor landscape challenge during week 7. The outfit I planned completely didn’t work. There was rain and I didn’t like our alien. But when we got to the finale we went in thinking let's just have fun.
Did the show test your relationship with Henck at all?
Of course how can it not. Just having to live in the same hotel. Really the biggest test was having to wear the same goddamn clothes for five days as we were filming each episode.
Neck corset Misty Couture
What's the one thing you would have done differently?
I would have taken a course on how to make better heads out of flowers, because those heads in the finale were just the most hideous things you have ever seen made out of flowers. At least it was flowers, and not just clay like Ryan did.
What would your advice be for anyone doing a reality competition?
You have to jump right in and make the best you can without worrying about winning. Create something that you are proud of and utilise every skill you’ve learned. Be brave.
Sunburst headdress by Edward Crutchley
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