Flowers have long attracted artists across centuries and genres. From the bold Sunflowers of Vincent Van Gogh, the sensual Iris painting of Georgia O’Keeffe, to the wooden sculptures of large vases filled with profuse, colorful flowers by Jeff Koons, flowers are celebrated for their complex, delicate forms and the symbols they represent.
Life. Courage. Healing. And whatever resonates with an artist when they gaze at blooms.
‘Flowers are happy subjects in the same way that we feel happy when we receive flowers. It’s as simple as that,’ said Naomi Banal, president of Floral Artists Manila (FAM), an all-women collective of floral painters.
Continuing their tradition of organizing group shows every year since 2019, the FAM artists recently opened ‘Floral Splendor 7’ at the SM Art Center in SM Negamall. Show at the SM Art Center
In partnership with Galerie Francesca, the exhibit brings together 16 artists, each offering a distinct interpretation of flowers through their unique artistic styles.
Different strokes, different
From exquisitely figurative renditions and stylized abstracts to a quietly defiant art installation, the exhibit embraces a bouquet of styles, techniques, and expressions.
Known for her transparent, layered abstract paintings, Banal’s ‘Blooming in Grace II,’ a 60″ x 60″ acrylic painting, presents a magnified perspective of white flowers. The layered glazing technique lends the pristine blooms a delicate and almost otherworldly quality.
For Butchie Peña, flowers are part of life’s joys. ‘I love looking at fresh blooms. It is a delight to the senses. And it’s one of those ephemeral pleasures,’ she said.
Pena’s 31-by-31-inch acrylic and oil pastel on canvas, ‘Moonlit Petals,’ was inspired by the double-white lilies at her Tita Estrella’s wake.
‘I was captivated by their intricate, lace-like petals and found them beautifully ethereal,’ she said.
Her floral works contrast with the tranquil mood and strong sense of place in her other paintings.
‘In a way, it is a visual break -a chance to practice and catch up with new impressions of florals. My usual paintings have mostly a kind of serenity amid the chaos of moods,’ she explained.
Meanwhile, Kat Ong’s floral calligraphy combines intentional and flowing strokes with an exuberant color story rather than realism. Her flowers, symbols of life, burst with peaches, lavenders, turquoise, and berry tones, accented by neon lemon yellow and baby pink. Echoing her recurring theme of femininity, the blooms balance delicateness with dynamic brushstrokes and vibrant hues.
‘Soliloquy,’ a striking installation by Chie Cruz, presents a disquieting contrast between dainty flowers strewn around a female figure lying on her side, eyes closed and wrists bound.
A dramatic theatrical device, the soliloquy in Cruz’s work gives voice to the woman’s inner feelings, often overlooked beneath the surface of a life that seems like a bed of flowers.
Beyond decorative
As ‘Floral Splendor 7’ has presented, floral works are not merely decor or sentimental pieces to beautify empty walls. They are also thoughtful narratives that reflect human feelings, propose ideas, and oftentimes, spur energy.
To those who consider floral paintings and still life as enhancements to interior design, considering ‘bigger-themed’ subjects like history and landscapes as more ‘serious art,’ Banal encouraged, ‘They need to see flowers. Not just our works, but other paintings as well.
‘As for painting flowers, make your own expression and whatever you feel is right. Paint not just from the eyes but also from the heart ‘