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This series of bitumen paper works are inspired
by the late-18th century ‘paper mosaiks’ pioneered
by Mary Delany, an English artist and aristocrat. Delany’s
drawings captured, with remarkable scientific accuracy and
a strikingly singular artistic voice, the various flowers
collected by prominent botanists of her time, including Daniel
Solander and Joseph Banks. Her work continues to provide a
valuable visual reference to the Enlightenment-era’s
curiosity and cataloguing of natural history. Reflecting on
her work, I wondered: How would Mary Delany approach the study
of plants in another era — one of impending ecological
and existential collapse?
Works are color pencil on Yasutomo mineral paper,
collaged onto bitumen felted paper with white pencil drawing
backgrounds fused with wax and resin.
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