HIstoric beauty

Edwin Oudshoorn x The Green Gallery

An exotic affair

These dreamy images by Edwin Oudshoorn are inspired by a Rousseau-esque painting by the Haitian artist Ramón Cano Manilla and were specially created for The Green Gallery. Lose yourself in their natural beauty_______.

“What I enjoyed about this creative project was that collaboration offers you something you could not possibly achieve on your own. It also makes the end-product stronger, and you learn from one another. Ramón Cano Manilla’s painting inspired me enormously, whilst the same time also posing a considerable challenge because - unlike my own work, which is considered romantic and classical - it radiates a distinctively exotic and tropical feeling. The strong contrasts and the almost 2D effect also create an exciting image. That’s why we opted for lots of plants in a combination of various colours with an unusual mix of textures________.”

“FLOWERS FORM A FIRM AND CONSTANT BASE UNDERPINNING ALL MY COLLECTIONS. YOU COULD DEFINITELY CALL IT A TRUE LOVE_______.”

Edwin: “I was born amongst the bulbs, and started an apprenticeship with a florist very early. Flowers have always played an important role in my life, and are very familiar to me. I never used to want to work anywhere else, so I always looked for part-time jobs in and around flower shops. Flowers are a very important source of inspiration for me - I couldn’t do without them. They’re part of me, and therefore part of my collections. My collection ‘return to home’ focused on the blossom branch, because that symbolises life and renewal in Japan. Its lifespan and flowering are determined by elements that you cannot influence, such as the wind, sun and rain. I think that’s a nice idea. You also see a lot of flowers and petals in the prints and the embroidery that I use. Flowers constantly recur as a theme in my work. They provide a firm and constant base underpinning all my collections. You could definitely call it a true love______.”

Favourite flower

Edwin: “I find that flowers and plants reflect a time and a feeling. So I like to see different flowers in each season and in different spaces. There’s not one flower that stands out from me. It’s the remarkable combinations that I find so beautiful_______.”

“ULTIMATE BEAUTY FOR ME IS A LAVISH, FRAGILE CREATION INSPIRED BY THE OPULENT VULNERABILITY OF EXTRAVAGANTLY FLOWERING UNTAMED NATURE.”

(text: TheGreenGallery)