FLORA IN FOCUS
April 29- May 31, 2024
“If you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for a moment.”
Celebrating the profound legacy of floral subjects, this exhibit features contemporary photographers like Emmanuelle Haugel, whose vivid and exotic bouquets embody youthful passion, and Richard Phibbs, whose pensive, sculptural studies of flowers reflect the solitude of the recent pandemic. "Flora in Focus" delves into the emotional resonance of flowers—how they echo the beauty of nature, the transient moments of life, and human experience. Moreover, it spotlights the power of photography to capture the ephemeral essence of flowers, preserving their fleeting beauty forever.
Flowers have held a significant place in art history, serving as a symbol of beauty, transience, and the cycles of nature. From ancient Egyptian carvings and the meticulously detailed floral studies of the Renaissance to the vibrant close-ups in modern photography, flowers have been a persistent subject in the visual arts, reflecting cultural sentiments, religious beliefs, and aesthetic preferences across time and geography.
With the advent of photography in the 19th century, flowers became a popular subject due to their static nature, which was suitable for the long exposure times initially required. Early photographers like Anna Atkins used cyanotype processes to create photograms of plants and flowers, which were as much scientific records as they were works of art.
In the 20th century, photographers began to explore flowers in new and creative ways. Edward Steichen, known for his fashion and celebrity photography, also produced striking floral compositions that turned flowers into dramatic and luminous forms, while Imogen Cunningham’s close-ups brought out the intricate patterns and textures of plant life, marrying art and botany.
Contemporary photographers continue to push the boundaries with floral photography. Emmanuelle Haugel’s bouquets are bright and exotic, speaking to passion and the energy of young love. Richard Phibbs transforms flowers into sculptural studies, many of them taken during the pandemic are more pensive, capturing the loneliness and isolation of that time.
The exhibition studies how flowers evoke a range of emotions and concepts, reflecting human experiences with nature, beauty, and the fleeting moments of life. also considers how photography can suspend the ephemeral nature of flowers, their emotions and beauty.
