London, here I come !
If you’re a flower lover, head to Daniel Raphael Gallery this spring for Anthophile, a dynamic floral-themed exhibition curated by florist and art collector, Yan Skates. Artists Ann Carrington, Emma Bass, Gordon Cheung, Phoebe Cummings, Rachel Dein, Philip Hale, Carolina Mizrahi and Rebecca Stevenson all set to impress as their works immerse the audience in a perfumed universe of metaphors. Yan Skates is also showcasing selected pieces from his own private collection by Julie Cockburn and Tracey Emin.
Renowned artist Ann Carrington is exclusively showcasing a bouquet sculpture Fashioned from spoons, fork tines and cutlery of all sorts. Her most recent work of art of this genre was recently acquired by the V&A and boasts the prestige of being on permanent display. In similar fashion, Rebecca Stevenson features two more sculptural works made from wax and resin. Flowers and apples combine to blossom from the heads and bodies of animal subjects. The effect is a colourful decoration of life yet looks can be deceiving as on some occasions her open carcasses spilling with wilted petals portrays certain signs of decomposition and death.
In what has been described as floral poetry, Rachel Dein’s castings are tactile and sculptural. Astonishingly, she manages to capture every stem movement, fragile fold of a petal and even the veins on a leaf, resulting in exact replicas of their previous existence. The work is eternalised, made hauntingly beautiful by a process which strips all colour from the original objects used.
New Zealand-based photographer Emma Bass brings to London a unique work from her Embellish series. The piece, titled The Punk exudes beauty through an assortment of flowers and an exotic bird that emerge from within a magnificent vase. Hints of magenta blend together with celestial tones of blue questioning the authenticity of such beauty. In the same vein, acclaimed photographer Carolina Mizrahi features works from a new series inspired by Ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arrangements and the flowers and colours from the tropics. Mizrahi has seen success both artistically and commercially. Her work has most recently featured on the front cover of Elle Vietnam. Her inclusion of photography, fashion and art is what viewers can expect to see in her latest collection.
Curator Yan Skates highlights, “through my collection and study of art with floral content, especially still life, I have learned that the description of flowers’ wonderful colours and shapes reveal every aspect of the human condition. Love, loss and desire. Recently the subject of flowers in art has had a renaissance and so these artists have been chosen for their abilities to push boundaries and reach a prolific status. They are the cream of the crop”.
The exhibition coincides with prestigious floral events such as Chelsea in Bloom, RHS Chelsea Flower Show and Sketch in Bloom. The showcase of art will extend beyond the exhibition as Church Street, Marylebone where Daniel Raphael Gallery is located transforms into a further floral venue with the collaboration of florists and other dealers. This will be the inaugural event of Church Street in Bloom.
Anthophile at Daniel Raphael Gallery, 26 Church Street, London, NW8 8EP from 15th – 31st May 2018.
The GFC (The Great Floral Crisis)
Private View: 15th February 2018, 5:30 – 8pm, to attend please RSVP to daniel@danielraphael.co.uk
Opening Times: Tuesday to Saturday 9:30 - 5:30pm
Press please contact Daniel Raphael Gallery, Daniel Levy on 0207 724 7230 or daniel@danielraphael.co.uk
