Artist Marieluise Bantel finds beauty in flowers, but often paints them long after their blooms have gone. These wilted and withered florals show that there is an essence and fragility long after the bountiful flourishes have begun to decay. She will set them against stark backgrounds, focusing on the shapes and textures that each one creates.Decay II, oil on canvas, 31½ x 47"

Her painting Decay II depicts an iris that has not yet completely withered, but the petals play with the light and color while the stem twists and turns. “Before the final phase of withering, the flower shows all its shimmering colors. The colors blue and purple predominate in the flower. Elevations and depressions of the petals are highlighted by warm-cold contrasts. The boundaries are fluid. The unusual flower shape creates tension,” says Bantel. “The iris is represented in a naturalistic, realistic way. The flower reaches the peak of its beauty through the exciting form, twist and apparent stillness. This plant is thus the inspiration for the theme ‘The beauty of decay.’”Transition, oil on canvas, 31½ x 23 3/5"

Marieluise Bantel in her studio.

Transition, on the other hand, shows three withered carnations with petals being to roll inwards as they dry. “The petals have become slightly brittle and the full red color has faded. Nevertheless, this color has a motivating effect on our senses,” she shares. “The outer calyxes have kept their shape. Individual traces of paint or lines are clearly visible. The distinction between light and dark is fluid. The silence and patient beauty of the dried plants is a symbol for the rearing beauty.” —

Powered by Froala Editor