HORTUS TOXICUS

 
     

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.

Kari Englehardt

Opuntia ficus indica | Pb and TPH phytoremediator
14”x11” mixed media on bitumen paper