Masahiko Kuroki · Botanical

laviniaschulz by Thomas Ruff

**Thomas Ruff ~** neg◊laviniaschulz_07, 2021, c-print. Work from the series *of Negative* | src Mai 36 Galerie

The neg◊laviniaschulz subgroup from the series of Negative are expressionist dance studies of the dancer Lavinia Schulz and the actor Walter Holdt in full-body masks, which they both designed together in the early 1920s.
The starting point of the series are photographs of the 19th and 20th century (by Minya Diez-Dührkoop), which have a typical brown patina and whose motifs cover the entire range of historical photography. When these photographs are inverted (reversing the positive into the negative), a high-contrast blue tone emerges, and the compositional design comes to the fore. Thus, the negative, the actual ‘original’ of a photograph, which threatens to disappear completely due to the triumph of digital photography, becomes the object of contemplation.

text adapted from source : Mai 36 Galerie

**Thomas Ruff ~** neg◊laviniaschulz_16, 2021, c-print. Work from the series *of Negative* | src Mai 36 Galerie

**Thomas Ruff ~** neg◊laviniaschulz_14, 2021, c-print. Work from the series *of Negative* | src Mai 36 Galerie

Flowers by Araki & von Bismarck

**Nikolai von Bismarck ~** Coloratus Rosas, 2023. Archival pigment print | src Michael Hoppen gallery ~ Paris photo 2023

**Nobuyoshi Araki** (b. 1940) ~ from *Flowers*, 1985. Yoshii Gallery. | src The NY Times

**Nobuyoshi Araki** (b. 1940) ~ Flower Rondeau, 1997. Fuji Crystal Archive print | src Michael Hoppen gallery ~ Paris photo 2023

Cupido · Hommage to Shoji

Catherine Larré · Anthèses

Gommans’ Flowers in Dutch Light

Stella Gommans :: All Delicate and Dreamy. From : "Flowers in Dutch Light" at Elliott Gallery — **Stella Gommans ::** All Delicate and Dreamy. From : “Flowers in Dutch Light” at Elliott Gallery

Stella Gommans :: In My Mind. Archival Pigment Print on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Paper. From : "A Declaration of Love. Flowers in Dutch Light" — **Stella Gommans ::** In My Mind. Archival Pigment Print on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Paper. From: “A Declaration of Love. Flowers in Dutch Light“

Stella Gommans :: Head up Gorgeous. From : “Flowers in Dutch Light” at Elliott Gallery — **Stella Gommans ::** Head up Gorgeous. From : “Flowers in Dutch Light” at Elliott Gallery

All images: Archival Pigment Prints on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Paper

A Declaration of Love

Stella Gommans :: Field of Dreams. From : “A Declation of Love. Flowers in Dutch Light” | src Gommans — **Stella Gommans ::** Field of Dreams. From : “A Declation of Love. Flowers in Dutch Light” | src Gommans

This series celebrates flowers – capturing their different phases and the variety of shapes and colours – each telling their own story. In beautiful detail it depicts how the light emphasises the elegance of the stem, or how it catches the leaf, or how it allows us to catch a glimpse of the brittle petals and the burst of colours when in full bloom. The viewer is invited to look closer and sometimes even take a step back, because in that instant – hidden aspects emerge – like a choreography, a fabulous dance.

‘A Declaration of Love, flowers in Dutch light’ is a series that symbolises life.

Flowers naturally bloom in all their strength, vulnerability and beauty – with elegance and grace – poetically captured in that single moment in time, never to be repeated again.

It is a serenade to life and love! [quoted from Stella Gommans website]

Stella Gommans :: Magic in Process. From : “Flowers in Dutch Light” — **Stella Gommans ::** Magic in Process. From : “Flowers in Dutch Light” at Elliott Gallery

**Stella Gommans ::** A Fresh Start. From : “Flowers in Dutch Light” at Elliott Gallery

**Stella Gommans ::** You Are Awesome. From : “Flowers in Dutch Light” at Elliott Gallery

**Stella Gommans ::** Take Your Time. From : “Flowers in Dutch Light” at Elliott Gallery

**Stella Gommans ::** Kind of Classy. From : “Flowers in Dutch Light” at Elliott Gallery

All images: Archival Pigment Prints on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Paper

Remembering You · Hanabi

Paul Cupido :: Remembering You II, 2022 © Paul Cupido – Courtesy of Bildhalle Amsterdam | src l'œil de la photographie — **Paul Cupido ::** Remembering You II, 2022 © Paul Cupido – Courtesy of Bildhalle Amsterdam | src l’œil de la photographie

Paul Cupido :: Hanabi, 2022 © Paul Cupido – Courtesy of Bildhalle Amsterdam | src l'œil de la photographie — **Paul Cupido ::** Hanabi, 2022 © Paul Cupido – Courtesy of Bildhalle Amsterdam | src l’œil de la photographie

“Hana” means “flower” and “bi” means “fire”, so “Hanabi” roughly translates to “fire flowers”. The Japanese call fireworks Hanabi. The name suggests not only a physical resemblance, but also an existential one. Fireworks bloom, but only for a moment, dazzling onlookers before fading into oblivion.

Hanabi (lit. flower fire or fire flower) were popularised and developed during the resplendent days of Edo and have come to hold cultural significance in Japan both in physical displays and metaphorically as a symbol of ephemeral beauty.