Two ground-breaking art exhibitions

Until Sunday 17 September 2023. Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, Kew Gardens

Acclaimed artists Anila Quayyum

Agha and Sue Wickison present new works at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, Kew Gardens. Exploring themes of faith and cultural exchanges, this tandem exhibition showcases stunning contemporary sculptural work alongside intricate botanical paintings, reflecting the ongoing evolution of art inspired by the natural world.

Pakistani-American contemporary artist Anila Quayyum Agha showcases two stunning pieces as part of the exhibition. All the Flowers Are for Me takes the shape of a large, laser-cut steel cube suspended from the ceiling and is inspired by patterns used in Islamic art and architecture. Filling the gallery space with elaborate floor-toceiling shadow patterns, All the Flowers Are for Me creates a unique experience where visitors can become a living, breathing part of the artwork, in an inclusive, sacred space. The work encompasses ideas of cultural connectedness and peaceful co-existence within the context of an increasingly fractious world.

Alongside this is Stolen Moment Bouquet I and II, a new work which receives its UK premiere at Kew Gardens. Constructed from mirrored stainless steel, this wall-mounted piece is inspired by Great Piece of Turf by the pioneering botanical artist Albrecht Dürer.

Running simultaneously is Plants of the Qur’ān, a world premiere exhibition featuring 25 brand-

“Plants of the Qur’an is a world premiere exhibition featuring 25 brand-new botanical paintings of plants referenced in the Qur’an , displayed for the first time at Kew Gardens” new botanical paintings of plants referenced in the Qur’ān, displayed for the first time at Kew Gardens. Travelling to various locations in the Middle East, botanical artist Sue Wickison has illustrated plants including garlic, pomegranate, date palms, henna and flowering desert species. Highlighting the cultural, agricultural, and botanical significance of a variety of species, the exhibition allows visitors to engage with these often-everyday plants in new ways, exploring their cultural context alongside their role in modern medicine, as food sources and in gardens around the world.

For more information, visit kew.org

For more paintings visit: tonyfandino.com

I will display and attend the Parallax Art Fair, Kensington Town Hall, London

July 8-9 2023

Why not come and meet the artist?