Orchids 

Marianne North captured these orchids in this botanical painting, yet they are more than still-life. Here, we find a garden of pitcher plants and flytraps. These are not mere botanical studies, but rather symbols of nature’s complex dance of beauty and treachery. Throughout history, the image of the flower has been linked with ephemerality and the transience of life. Yet, there is also something sinister lurking in the folds and curves of these botanical figures. The carnivorous plants, with their deceptive allure, remind us that nature is not always nurturing. Like sirens of the plant world, these organisms lure their unsuspecting victims. The artist invites us to confront the darker aspects of our relationship with nature. Are we the hunter or the hunted? Much like the flower, this powerful tension between attraction and repulsion captures the essence of the human psyche.