The Maggot-Bearing Stapelia — Modern Botanical Rei Kort

A contemporary vector reinterpretation of the maggot-bearing stapelia, presenting this unusual succulent through a structured, ground-hugging composition that emphasizes form, density, and contrast. The radiating stems are distilled into repeating, tapering elements, creating a disciplined framework that draws the eye inward toward the flower’s striking center. By removing painterly texture and focusing on silhouette, repetition, and tonal restraint, the composition reveals the plant’s sculptural character. The star-shaped bloom emerges as a focal interruption—organic, visceral, and deliberately at odds with the ordered structure surrounding it—creating tension between attraction and unease. This reinterpretation transforms a botanical curiosity into a modern visual study of structure and disruption. A refined exploration of natural design at its most unconventional, reimagined through a contemporary minimalist lens.