PAPER | LONDON
What do you hope viewers will discover beneath the surface of your work?
I hope viewers sense an integration with the plant world; an awareness that our physical, inner, and cultural lives are interwoven with plants. Beneath our skin, humans and plants share nearly all essential minerals; every nutrient that sustains us enters the food chain through them. The colours in my work come from mineral and vegetal pigments mixed with honey, gum arabic, and casein, evoking nourishment and a direct connection to the earth.
Beneath our enjoyment of plants and trees also lies a layer of story and mythology—a deep cultural root system. In Crocus Carpet, the crocus appears as both a herald of spring and a symbol of transformation. In Greek mythology, Crocus was a youth transformed into a flower after death, embodying love and eternal beauty.
Crocus Carpet – 2025, Handmade Japanese paper (Mitsumata and Kozo, vintage and new), wooden battens, hand-mixed pigments, bookbinder’s paste, clear thread • £2,125
Find out more about Anne McKenzie here.
Images of work: Jules Lister