GoSee Book Tip : ‘Visions of Flora’ - A Journey Through Enchantment and Timeless Beauty by Vivienne Mok
Vivienne Mok is known for her romantic portraits and the skillful staging of female models. Her work draws parallels to art historical periods and is reminiscent of Rubens, the Pre-Raphaelites, or Art Nouveau. It features diverse body types bathed in a characteristic soft light and exudes an atmosphere evocative of a fresh summer morning or an autumn afternoon.
Nature plays a central role in her images, as does the setting of boudoir-like interiors, often reflecting the opulent aesthetics of the old masters. Mok bridges the past and present by combining baroque or Edwardian female figures with poetic scenes or in which young men with an androgynous appearance are depicted. In her photographs, delicate details often emerge, like a butterfly gently landing on bare skin, while idyllic landscapes invite viewers to immerse themselves in the stories. Her scenes include playful elements such as blossoms and reflections on rippling water surfaces. With her unique approach, not only does Vivienne Mok tell visual stories, she also invites viewers to enter a fairy-tale world full of imagination and beauty.
Vivienne Mok’s debut book ‘Visions of Flora’ presents a curated selection of 190 images from the last 15 years that best represents the essence, various phases, and facets of her photography, including new and unpublished work – in a celebration of beauty, femininity, nature, enchantment, stillness, and timelessness.
Published by Snap Collective (snap-collective.com) in A4 portrait format, the book has 192 pages. It uses eco-friendly print-on-demand technology and is printed on high-quality 170 gsm paper with state-of-the-art digital offset technology and a hardcover binding.
We are delighted to present the book and the photographer along with an interview on GoSee.
GoSee: Which artists or art movements have inspired you the most, and how do these influences reflect in your work? Vivienne Mok: Growing up, the artistic movement that most influenced me as a child was Impressionism. Generally speaking, I am drawn to many classical painters, including Botticelli, Waterhouse, Frederic Leighton, Alphonse Mucha, etc. But I would say these inspirations are somewhat integrated into my artistic vision, rather than something I actively study. When I started photography, my inspirations weren’t specifically focused on a certain painter or art movement, but rather a combination of many influences, both artistic and from daily life. Over time, I have collected many little old things (books, chairs, fabrics, clothes) that you can see in my pictures, adding a vintage touch. My earlier work has more of a light, romantic 70s aesthetic, influenced partly by the bedroom I grew up in and its rose-patterned wallpaper (often visible in my work). In contrast, my later work leans more towards pictorialism and includes more outdoor landscapes.
Can you tell us a bit about your creative process? How does a typical photo series start for you? It depends; sometimes I see a location or certain plants, and it starts from there. Other times, I see the model first and take it from there. I put a lot of time into preparing for each shoot. Planning isn’t everything, and since magic tends to happen somewhat spontaneously, it’s important to be prepared.
What do you look for in the models you select? Are there specific traits or characteristics that are important to you? I look for special faces that can work well with the timelessness of my images. But in the end, anyone can be a model if we can build enough trust while working together. Sometimes, for some specific projects, I look for certain body types, or specific features like extremely long hair.
What role does nature play in your images, and how do you select your locations? Nature plays a big role in my images because it is part of my life. I live close to nature and like to work with plants. Where I live in Switzerland, you can always stumble across gorgeous scenery, from beautiful lakes to hidden gems in the forest. I choose my locations based on their timelessness (usually water or greenery, sometimes simply in my garden) and seasonal features (such as spring flowers, autumn leaves, etc).
How do you succeed in telling a story in a single image? The combination of the location, the model’s expression or pose, the composition, and the use of light all help tell a story. Usually, when the model doesn’t look like she’s posing but instead becomes part of the scene, we can even forget it’s a staged picture altogether. But sometimes, a simple expressive portrait can be worth a thousand words.
What role do light and color play in your photography, and how do they influence the mood of your images? Light, of course, plays an extremely important role. The use of soft, natural light gives the image a dreamy aesthetic, and makes my photography immediately recognizable. Color is just as important; warmer or cooler tones can tell completely different stories. I often like to work with tone-on-tone colors.
How important is it for you to include historical references in your work, and what do they mean to you personally? Sometimes, the historical reference is a coincidence, and sometimes it’s on purpose. But more importantly, I am looking for classical quality, something that is timeless, and can (hopefully) last.
How do viewers typically respond to your work? I am grateful that it is mostly received positively. Because of the classical and romantic qualities of my work, it has been well received by audiences of all generations.
Do you have upcoming projects or goals you can tell us about, and are there themes you want to explore in the future?
One step at a time – the book isn’t finished yet. We still have a pre-order campaign before printing. In the future, I would like to explore video work more because bringing my images to life with movement could be very interesting to see. I have already worked on projects such as music videos and would like to do more. I am definitely looking forward to what comes next!
Are there any specific thoughts about your first book that you want to share? I’ve waited so long to publish a book, and it has taken me two years to produce this first monograph. But I think now is the right time to get this book out into the world. Sharing something tangible in the digital age is important to me. There are a lot of changes taking place in the world of photography, with the emergence of new powerful tools like AI and the vast amount of visual content online. A shift is already happening. Making this book for me is also a new beginning. In a way, it closes a chapter and opens another in my life. Taking a step back and reflecting on the work I’ve done over the last 15 years, compiling its essence, and putting it into a book has been both interesting and introspective.
Born in New York in 1986, Vivienne Mok grew up in Paris and then Hong Kong. Nurtured by these different cultures and moving frequently between the two cities, she ultimately decided to settle in the Swiss countryside, surrounded by the peaceful nature of Lake Constance. Fascinated by art from a young age, she studied fashion design. After graduating from Parsons School of Design, she worked as a stylist and creative consultant for a Parisian haute couture brand for a few years – a highly enriching and pivotal experience for her future. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for photography, shifting her focus from then on. ‘A picture speaks a thousand words.’ More than a mere profession, photography became a means of expression – a way to create and explore new worlds. Self-taught and multidisciplinary, she developed a distinctive style: feminine, intimate, painterly, and dreamy.
viviennemok.com
instagram.com/vivienne.mok
snap-collective.com
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