les Fleurs de WB

Flowers of WB:

A series of drawings that collects the flowers Benjamin mentions in his letters to Gretel Adorno. Often the context of the flowers in the letters is profound in terms of his experiences, memories, and life situation.  This selection includes his allusions to the psychotropic as well as the more prosaic of his encounters with flowers.  Benjamin maintained a voluminous and prodigious correspondence with many people and his deep attachment to certain writing paper and pens is well established.  This bouquet of drawings is offered as a tribute to the enduring intimacy of his relationships with Gretel Adorno, and Gershom Scholem, among others. The title draws on his fascination, work, and translations of the poet, Charles Baudelaire and especially of his book: les Fleurs du Mal.

 Ink and gold painted script on Vellum, 42 sheets, each 40 x 50 cm.  2017.