Often the things we crave, can be located on the other side of fear, but what happens when such a fear culminates from the very temptations of what you are running away from? The legend of Dracula embodies the idea of exploring your fears, while also giving in to the seductive nature of our temptations and the consequences therein. Amid all the darkness within this narrative, lies the desire to explore the unknown, the mysteries of life, resiliently and with true determination to come out of the darkness that exists with the living.
The explorations embodied within this story, are an inspiration of curiosity and immense creativity. At least this is my connection with the folklore, as evidenced by my creations, but first, what is the legend of Dracula?
Timeless Legend of Dracula
Transylvania, a beautiful region in Romania, is often linked to the story of Dracula due to its mysterious and Gothic reputation. The novel's setting, Castle Dracula, is based on Bran Castle in the Romanian region of Transylvania.
The legend of Dracula is closely associated with the historical figure Vlad III, also known as Vlad the Impaler. He was a 15th-century ruler of Wallachia, now part of Romania. While he was known for his brutality and often impaling his enemies, the vampire legend became popular due to Bram Stoker's 1897 novel, 'Dracula'. Stoker's fictional Count Dracula was inspired by Vlad III's reputation and various Eastern European folklore.
The Dracula legend has since evolved into a global pop culture phenomenon, with countless books, movies, and adaptations exploring the vampire myth, often set in the atmospheric backdrop of Transylvania. The historical figure Vlad III, Vlad the Impaler, was a 15th-century ruler of Wallachia, a region in what is now Romania. He is often associated with the Dracula legend due to his reputation for cruelty and his brutal methods of dealing with his enemies. Vlad III was born in 1431 and ruled Wallachia on and off throughout his life. He is best known for his practice of impaling his enemies, a gruesome method of execution in which a sharp stake was driven through the victim's body. This earned him the nickname 'Vlad the Impaler'.
Although Vlad's reign was marked by his harsh tactics in maintaining order, his actions were often seen as a way to defend his territory against the Ottoman Empire and other adversaries. He is also known for his efforts to combat corruption and crime within his realm.
Bram Stoker's 1897 novel 'Dracula' drew on some aspects of Vlad III's character and reputation, particularly his association with impalement, to create the fictional vampire Count Dracula. However, it's important to note that the character in Stoker's novel is a work of fiction and not an accurate representation of Vlad III's life.
The connection between Vlad the Impaler and the fictional Count Dracula has since become a part of popular culture and has led to the enduring legend of Dracula, especially in the context of Transylvania and vampire lore.
The Mysterious Artistic Journey
To fully honor the mystery and the boldness of my character, I allowed myself to travel through Dracula’s encounters; intriguing yet scary but also thought-provoking at best. The deep dive into the deep ends of my fears is where authentic magic and creativity hide. It is my conviction the final result takes you on a reflective journey, think about the number of choices we are privileged as humans, yet often we end up making self-centered and damning of all choices.
However, despite the faults, the darkness, and the flawed nature of human existence, there is beauty worth exploring; sometimes beauty can be intertwined in darkness, fear, and guilt but we have to let it shine. Flowers give us the unlimited power of capturing beautiful and dark moments alike in the most perfect manner possible.
In pursuit of evoking the enigmatic allure of the Dracula legend, I embarked on a creative odyssey, meticulously crafting two enthralling flower fascinators and a handmade barbed wire heart. Each one, a masterpiece of botanical artistry, was adorned with a cornucopia of nature's treasures. Anthurium's seductive crimson hues, garden roses whispering secrets from forgotten gardens, dianthus exuding mystique, amaranthus cascading like cascades of forgotten memories, and the ethereal pampas grass, evoking dreams of bygone eras.
But my artistic journey did not end there. To cast an irresistible spell, I intertwined nature's feathers, delicate as moonlight, with a decorative wire that seemed to capture moonbeams themselves. Glistening beads adorned the ensemble, akin to nocturnal stars. Each element, carefully kissed by a gentle shade of black, transcended the ordinary, weaving a symphony of shadow and light, a drapery that paid a reverent and haunting homage to the timeless legend of Dracula.
Flower jewelry and art by Laura Draghici Emc/ Chic Fleuriste, photo & color grading by Lenscapades, make-up by Ioana Mateescu Make-up, styling by Julie E. Suditu, production assistant: Otilia Gitlan, models: Alexandra & Krom Well.
