Botanical Stories Exhibition 2024

Welcome… in Oldenburg Castle at my exhibition 'Botanical Stories'. Let me take you into the Marmorsaal to share a unique botanical wonderland.

I hope this space will be a discovery for you of how nature can be a slow remedy for this fast world, a sanctuary where the mind can rest and a whisper of beauty and wonder in a world full of noise.

The exhibition is created around 3 themes; the herbarium, the forest and the garden. You can read more about it in my previous blogpost.

Let's start with the antique black display cabinets. The first one is an ode to the beauty and diversity of the forest. It's a collection of treasures from the woods and a real larch branch with porcelain mushrooms.

The second cabinet is compilation of creations referring to the small world of the woods where one can find moss, mushrooms and lichen; a porcelain notebook ‘Stories of moss' and a collection of spoons filled with stories of moss and mushrooms.

In the middle of the hall you'll have to sit on your knees to discover the small mushrooms and moss which are slowly covering a pile of old books. Time is standing still here and nature is taking over and creates a complete different natural universe.

You'll will also notice a collection of real natural pieces such as moss, wood and branches which are combined with small porcelain creations.

To add a natural and rustic atmosphere I've collected dried flowers and plants to decorate the windowsills.

Let's take a closer look at the world of the herbarium.

Life is often so fast-paced that we fly through our days, weeks, months and even years without a moment to pause or take a breath. Flowers remind us to live in the moment; they are temporary. By embracing them in our everyday lives we get to enjoy the beauty of their transience.

And by collecting them into an herbarium, they will last forever, reminding us of the beauty of our days.

We continue our discovery in the forest where ferns are growing abundantly and afterwards fading in rusty shades.

In the misty depths of the emerald woods, the air is filled with a moist and earthly scent. There are so many treasures to be found; woodland foliage, carpets of moss and mushrooms in all kind of shapes and colours.

One only needs to know where to look...

In the back of the Marmorsaal you'll find this dreamy corner with a subtle hint to the woods. This handmade (by my husband) wooden frame has fairylike clothing which is decorated with porcelain details.

An open story book tells the botanical story of the enchanting foxglove; one of my favourite flowers and often found in the woods.

In this wooden cabinet you'll learn something about the language and life cycle of flowers.

Ever fleeting, ever changing and shifting with the seasons; flowers weren't made to last. Time spent in observation and admiration is time well spent, I'd say.

The study of the life cycle from seed to mature growth, from full bloom to decay is something that resonates throughout the natural world. I've tried to capture some of its beauty and delicacy in porcelain.

And in the end we can linger a while in the garden where one can find contemplation, space and a sense of connection. It's a place to unwind and to come home, but above all it is silence. The garden offers you a corner where you can surround yourself with plants and flowers, a shelter from the rest of the world. At least, that's how it feels for me.

A miniature cabinet filled with botanical treasures, mini glass domes, dried flowers and old books.

There's a video in the making about my exhibition and as soon as it's finished I'll share it with you!

I hope you enjoyed spending some time in this botanical universe and taking the time to discover my botanical stories, made in porcelain.

Thank you to everyone who has visited my exhibition and for all your kind words. That's truly heartwarming!

And a big thank you to the wonderful team at Oldenburg Castle for their help and support!