British artist Ant Hamlyn brings the visual energy of the early 2000s into a sculptural language shaped by glossy surfaces, compressed forms, and playful color. His works draw on the era's mix of early digital graphics, sci-fi aesthetics, and youthful pop culture, turning nostalgia into a fresh contemporary statement.
On view in Stuttgart as part of the solo exhibition Soft // Chrome at Better Go South, the series presents stylized flowers and mushrooms made from hand-sewn metallic fabrics, fiber stuffing, polyurethane-coated material, acrylic, and steel fixings. The pieces appear flattened between transparent panels, giving them a sleek, almost screen-like presence.
Rather than imitating nature, Hamlyn transforms botanical forms into bold objects that reflect how design, memory, and technology can overlap. The result is a body of work that feels both playful and precise, balancing early internet-era optimism with a distinctly post-digital sensibility.
By reworking familiar floral imagery through industrial materials and futuristic finishes, Hamlyn highlights how contemporary art can turn cultural nostalgia into new visual possibilities. This approach points toward a future where craft and digital-era aesthetics continue to merge in unexpected ways.