Eye-popping colour at Kew gallery
AWARD-WINNING artist Pip & Pop presents a new exhibition at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, Kew Gardens, from Saturday May 21.
Inspired by mythologies and folklore, When Flowers Dream explores themes of consumption, wish-fulfillment, and seemingly endless abundance, using eye-popping candy colours and a playful sense of perspective to immerse audiences in a uniquely wonderful world.
Part of Kew’s exciting new Food Forever summer programme, this is the debut London exhibition for Australian artist Tanya Schultz, who works as Pip & Pop to create immersive installations from an array of materials, including sugar, modelling clay and sweets, as well as objects sourced on her travels all over the world.
As well as showcasing a range of sculptural work throughout the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, When Flowers Dream will also include a brand-new installation, created in close collaboration with scientists at Kew.
Exploring the idea of a food utopia for the future, this hand-assembled technicolour installation will be filled with foods identified as neglected and underutilised species.
Taking the shape of a highly detailed and colourful landscape, the piece also draws inspiration from imaginary worlds from legends including Luilekkelerland and the Land of Cockaigne – mythological realms where everything the eye can see is created from food.
Botanical paintings from Kew’s archive will also form a central part of the exhibition, with a colourful selection of 19th century works showcasing underutilised edible plant species, including Ensete, Baobab and Granadilla.
Tanya said: “The opportunity to explore vital themes of future foods and food security in collaboration with Kew’s scientists is one which has scarcely felt more timely or important.
“As the impact of climate change weighs heavily on our future, I hope to create a new artwork that is optimistic and allows us to imagine a better world.
“It will be a visual feast of colour and sweetness, enticing and appealing, yet with serious ideas beneath it.”
Pip & Pop: When Flowers Dream at Kew Gardens will be at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art from Saturday May 21 until Sunday March 5 2023.