As mentioned in our last post, “The Floral Still Life: It’s Stems and Roots”, the traditional still life focused on a moral lesson –perhaps the most frequently used motif being life’s temporality. Flowers as they exist in nature are an art in and of themsleves; Claude Monet even said “My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece”. But these tragic beauties only last a season. They bud; they bloom; they die –such is life.
Here are some contemporary artists who capitalize on the short-lived nature of real live flowers to produce exquisite ephemeral art. Be sure to add any of your favorites I may have missed below!
Wolfgang Laib –”Pollen from Hazelnut” at the MoMA (2013):
This artist literally gathers pollen from trees and plants near his southern-German home, bottles it up, and takes it to museum’s all over the world to create dust-carpet installations on their floors. Part of me is impressed by his commitment, the other part wonders how the bees must feel…
Image Credit: The New York Times
Detroit Flower House – Lisa Waud and others:
Before a delapidated house in Detroit was demolished, florist – Lisa Waud – decided to give it one last hurrah by decking out the place in flowers. She partnered with local floral artists to make the various installations and the results were hauntingly beautiful. The “Detroit Flower House” exhibit opened for one weekend in October 2015.
Image Credit: boredpanda
Flower Carpet Festival –Brussels, Belgium:
The event occurs bi-annually on the Grand-Place of Brussels, featuring a different design theme each year. In fact, this year’s flower carpet will “bring Guanajuato to the centre of Europe”
Image Credit: flower carpet
Jean-Michel; Bihorel: Flower Figures (made out of dried hydrangea):
Image Credit: designboom
Carl Kleiner: Postures Series (minimalist floral arrangements):
Image Credit: The Cool Hunter
“Flower Puppy’ by Jeff Koons:
Published June 26th, 2018
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