Very exciting to have Ekballium, my screen made predominantly with encapsulated seedheads, exhibited in the Love (Union) room at the fabulous Homo Faber The Journey of Life exhibition currently running at the Fondazione Giorgio Cini in Venice.

A central theme of the piece is movement, with inspiration drawn from both the ingenious, aerodynamic seed carriers themselves and from the structures and rhythms of our own dance forms such as ballet. The movement of seeds is intrinsically about continuation and breaking new frontiers, and this piece pays tribute to this life affirming supersystem.

Ekballium - the word originates from the ancient Greek word “ἐκβάλλω” (ekvállo) which means to discharge our throw out - is a meditation on nature’s inherent optimism, a tribute to the strange mystery and regenerative promise of the cusp.

Plants - various grasses (including setaria, fescue, rye, timothy and pampas) various clematis, scabious, hawksweed, dandelions, ivy, thistles, bog cotton, michaelmas daisy, nigella, honesty, maple leaves, skeletal leaves (including magnolia, holly and hydrangeas) white feathers.

Dimensions - 1.95m high x 2.7m wide