SYMBOLISM

The significance of flora is present in every aspect of our everyday lives. From celebrating birth to commemorating death. They are given to lovers, family, and friends. We parade them at wedding ceremonies, give them as good luck gifts or congratulations, and use them to spread joy and hope. Every watershed in our lives seems to involve flowers as powerful symbols of meaning. Our cultural myths and allegorical stories contain an abundance of flora. Flowers are so integral to our culture that it is difficult to imagine a world without them.

It is understandable that artists have been drawn to flora as a subject for depiction. Flowers are among the most beautiful and vibrant natural phenomena that can be observed. Aesthetically, they are a challenge for any artist to reproduce. However, almost all artists realize that it is pointless to try to compete directly with nature. Flora is simply recognized as an unsurpassed object of beauty in nature, and artists continue to evoke its power and beauty to convey a variety of messages and meanings.

Botticelli - Primavera (1480-85)

The flowers that are placed in the meadow, under the protagonist's feet, have been placed to facilitate the narration of the scene - as a subtitle of the drama. On either side of Chloris's foot, for example, are chrysanthemums, the flower of virginity. Between Chloris's foot and Flora's foot are forget-me-nots, buttercups and bachelor's buttons, which symbolize remembrance and initiation into the mysteries of love. Flowers of love and pleasure are found under Venus's splayed feet, as well as plants that bloom in May, the month originally planned for the wedding between Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de Medici and Semiramide Appiani, to whom the painting was intended as a gift. Between Venus and the three graces are more flowers associated with love, as well as jasmine, the bride's flower.

RACHEL RUYSCH

Prominent artist of the 17th century

Rachel Ruysch was a pioneer, both in her creation and in her success. She mastered the art of painting floral still lifes with incredible detail and realism, combining scientific rigor with artistic beauty. At a time when women were limited in what subjects they could paint, still life was a genre that was considered appropriate and could be done in the quiet corners of the home. Her success broke a male-dominated barrier and paved the way for women in art.

'Flowers are so integral to our culture that it's hard to imagine a world without them.'

SAATCHI GALLERY

Flowers - Flora in contemporary art & culture

We took the opportunity to visit the exhibition that focused on the theme of the importance of flora in contemporary art. The exhibition included works by Alex Katz, Ally McIntyre, Rebecca Louise Law, Tony Matelli, among others.

It was exciting to see how a theme could have so many different expressions, but at the same time what impact the subject has on the viewer. From hyperrealism to abstract interpretations, there was a common thread of timelessness in all the motifs.

From right: 'White roses' by Alex Katz, "ARRANGEMENT_593" by Tony Matelli

BRANDY KRAFT

Creator of new species

"Mankind is destroying the planet. This destruction has made me fascinated with preserving nature. I started with painting flowers- thousands of flowers in all states of life and decay. I wanted to preserve their beauty and prevent their extinction. Then suddenly in my dreams and in my subconscious I started having visions of new flowers. Non-existent flowers. I started painting these strange new hybrids and realized I was creating not only new species of flora but I was building a new world of my own. Equally inspired by the nature of Sweden and one of its most famous scientists. Now I follow in the footsteps of Carl von Linné by officially documenting each new hybrid flower species and this is just the beginning..."

In the gallery's selection

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SONJA HESSLOW

Creating a sanctuary

"I love looking at flowers and trying to imagine how I could use them for a new image. Nature is fascinating and I like to photograph flowers up close so I can really bring out the textures. I often think about how wonderful it would be to be able to disappear into a completely different world and just become one with nature. It's my sanctuary that I create." - Sonja Hesslow

See Sonja Hesslow's work