Lyndall Phelps

The history of plants and garden design has been the focus for many past works. A Florist’s Feast is a series of ‘specimen vases’, which traditionally showcased individual blooms, prized for their beauty, exclusivity and expense. Prior to the establishment of horticultural societies in the early 1800s, such plants were exhibited at Florists’ Feasts, where the well to do presented their treasures.

The installation reflects early floral displays, particularly Auriculas, which were staged on theatres of tiered wooden shelving. In contrast to the wealth and grandeur of these early displays, the materials and floral designs in A Florist’s Feast are modest. Acrylic is cheap and readily accessible and the patterns have been appropriated from craft supplies. These rather humble materials have been hand crafted into beautiful, jewel-like objects.

A Florist’s Feast was exhibited as part of Blue Sky, a group exhibition at the Ruskin Gallery, Cambridge.