Adaptation

The Victorian 'language of flowers' was a way of sending a coded message through the use of certain flowers and floral arrangements. Each flower's meaning could be used to express emotions which could not be spoken aloud. The plants in the case all originate in South Africa, and have been chosen for their names and the meanings to create a living letter. The postcards in the drawer offer a key to help you interpret this letter of loss and longing. In the Victorian era, plant collectors brought back strange and rare plants from around the world. They transported the plants in a 'Wardian case', a glass case that creates its own micro-climate. These plants were displayed as rare treasures, as they slowly adapted to their new environment. Part of Origination, a collaborative project with Rebecca Beinart.