可能是梵高的某作品太深入民心，害許多人一想到向日葵，就立刻與萎靡的形象連結起來。但其實之為「向日葵」，除了因為花在生長時朝向太陽方向，也是由於花本身酷似太陽的形態而得名。而在俄羅斯、烏克蘭、葡萄牙和秘魯等地，向日葵都被視作為國花的存在，可見向日葵的受歡迎程度，而從來都予人生機勃發、活力感的形象。
來自烏克蘭品牌Yakusha Design推出的商品，眼前這一系列的桌燈、落地燈和掛牆燈名為「SONIAH」，是烏克蘭語中「向日葵」的意思，其靈感來自剋剋塔尼文化中的太陽崇拜，恰好與向日葵的「向日」特性相對應。而雖然參考自向日葵的形態，卻把花辦與莖葉以簡化，只保留向日葵的大致輪廓，並以淡薄的單色呈現，帶來一種極簡的、禪意的美態。
此外，燈具採用品牌開發的「ZTISTA」物料，其名字為烏克蘭語中「用麵團造成」的意思，由木屑、稻草、麻布和黏土混合而成，再予以手工雕刻。這種物料除對環境友善，其在塑形製造的不規則紋理，為設計亦帶來有機的形態。而品牌除了在「SONIAH」燈具系列用上該物料，亦曾在設計桌椅及其他傢俱產品時使用上，有興趣的讀者不妨造訪品牌官網，看品牌如何大肆發揮這種自家物料的特性。
Van Gogh’s paintings of sunflowers must have made too much of an impression. Many people think of the nodding blooms in his paintings whenever they think of sunflowers. The name sunflower actually comes from the fact that its bud faces the sun at all times of the day. Plus, the flower itself resembles the shape of the sun. In places like Russia, Ukraine, Portugal, and Peru, sunflowers are regarded as the national flower, and their vibrant yellow color is always associated with vitality and happiness.
Yakusha Design from Ukraine has launched a lamp series called SONIAH, which means sunflower in the local language. The series draws inspiration from the sun-worship Cucuteni-Trypillian culture, and includes a table lamp, floor lamp and wall lamp. Even though the so-called “sunflower lamps” come without stems or leaves, and the signature bright yellow color is missing, the lamps’ resemblance to the beautiful flower is still vividly visible even from their minimalist appearance.
The SONIAH lamps are produced using a material called ZTISTA that is specially developed by the brand. ZTISTA, which means “made from dough” in Ukrainian, is a mixture of wood chips, straw, linen, and clay. It is an environmentally friendly material that has a special texture. With the use of ZTISTA, the final products have a very unique and organic structure and form. Besides the SONIAH series, the brand also uses ZTISTA to produce tables, chairs and other furniture. Those who are interested in this special material can visit the brand’s official website for more information.
