In nature, flowers serve as an essential part of the reproduction process. But for people, scented flowers are ripe with countless meanings and symbolism that transcend their biological functions.
During the day VictorianOffering a bouquet to someone with your right hand indicated a non-verbal “yes”, while a yellow carnation would reject an admirer. Similar in art history, wilting flowers that are represented as a momento mori remind us of the inevitability of Death, and for Van GoghSunflowers were the perfect stand-in for gratitude.
A huge exhibition that will open next month Saatchi Gallery Cultivates a huge repertoire of works that investigates how flowers have become a ubiquitous entity in human life and creativity. Flowers: Flora in contemporary art and culture Brings together more than 500 photos, installations, sculptures, archive documents and other objects to create a rich landscape that includes millennia.
Anchoring the exhibition is an extensive and compelling work of more than 100,000 dried flowers through the Rebecca Louise Law. Smaller pieces include xuebing du’s essential photos of flowers in natural light, the striped steam with voyder with steam with steam and lush, lively gardens by Faye Bridgewater.
Opening on time to herald spring in London, Flowers runs from 12 February to 5 May.
