The Symbolism of Flowers in my art

August 30, 2020

Over centuries, artists have been drawn to flowers for their evocative qualities and have given them personal, cultural, and religious significance. With their harmonious colors, soft curves, and symmetrical forms, flowers have become very rich in symbolism and appear regularly in art throughout history.  

When incorporating flowers into my sets, I consider the historical and cultural significance of each flower species to avoid confusion and misinterpretation. In my practice, the purpose of flowers depends on the context, a single flower can represent reproduction or decay, purity or promiscuity, love or hardship—or nothing.

For example, in my photograph Allure I incorporated flowers to imply their function in nature: reproduction. In this image flowers address issues and emotions associated with the topic of female sexuality and procreation. I integrated flowers into my composition to symbolize female genitalia and therefore, associated them with my own perspectives, encounters, perceptions, and stresses in a way that would be simpler for me to communicate and less grating for my crowd to acknowledge. 

Making these photographs has been therapeutic for me, my models, and my crew; I hope that other women who experience difficulty exploring and embracing their sexuality can relate to my work and can now seek different ways to feel more comfortable in their own skin. 

I integrate flowers into my composition to symbolize female genitalia and therefore, associate them with my own perspectives, encounters, perceptions, and stresses in a way that would be simpler for me to communicate and less grating for my crowd to acknowledge.