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While researching towards The Enlightenment Project, Marian Maguire stumbled upon the microscopic investigations of Nehemiah Grew, a seventeenth century plant anatomist. She was inspired by his remarkable illustrations of the cellular structure of leaves, stems, seeds and roots, published in ‘The Anatomy of Plants’ 1682, that revealed a view of nature hitherto unseen.
Plants are naturally rhythmic. They grow according to a pre-ordained pattern with variation only occurring when there is fluctuation in the environment, eg. more or less light, water, wind, food. The consistency of a plant’s intention is something Maguire very much likes and takes time to observe both in her garden and in the natural world. Many of these images flow onward from her geometric work, albeit more curvaceously. In some she ruffles the rhythm. In others there is reference to Gordon Walters and his use of the koru, itself a derivation of growth patterns. Maguire had two related exhibitions on this theme: BOTANICAL FOLIO - PG gallery192, 9-26 July, 2023 STEM - Bowen Galleries, 15 July-4 Aug, 2024 Some works appeared in both shows. |
2022-23 works on paper
Botanical Folio #1, 2022,
pen, pencil and acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
Botanical Folio #3, 2022, pen and acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
Botanical Folio #5, 2022, pen and acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
Botanical Folio #7, 2023, acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
Botanical Folio #9, 2023, acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
Botanical Folio #11, 2023, acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
After Nehemiah Grew: 'Small end of a Buglofs Root', 2022, pen and acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
After Nehemiah Grew: 'A young Borage Leaf', 2023, pen, pencil and acrylic on paper, 320x280mm
After Nehemiah Grew: 'Wormwood Root cut transversly', 2023, pen, pencil and acrylic on paper, 320x280mm
After Nehemiah Grew: 'Pine Branch cut transversly', 2023, pen, pencil and acrylic on paper, 320x280mm
After Nehemiah Grew: 'Piece cut out of a Vine Branch', 2023, pen, pencil and acrylic on paper, 320x280mm
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Botanical Folio #2, 2022, pen and acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
Botanical Folio #4, 2022, pen and acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
Botanical Folio #6, 2023,
acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
Botanical Folio #8, 2022, acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
Botanical Folio #10, 2023, acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
After Nehemiah Grew: 'The Sumach Branch cut transversly', 2022-23, pen and acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
After Nehemiah Grew: 'The young Fruit, Three Membranes, & Seed now loofe', 2022, pen and acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
After Nehemiah Grew: 'Barberry Branch cut transversly', 2023, pen, pencil and acrylic on paper, 320x280mm
After Nehemiah Grew: 'Part of a Vine Branch cut transversly and splitt downe y midle', 2023, pen, pencil and acrylic on paper, 320x280mm
After Nehemiah Grew: 'A Goosberry cut transversly', 2023, pen, pencil and acrylic on paper, 320x280mm
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2024 works on paper
Botanical Folio #12, 2024, pen and acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
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Botanical Folio #13, 2024, pen and acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
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Botanical Folio #14, 2024, pen and acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
Botanical Folio #16, 2024, pen and acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
Stem#S1, 2024, pen and acrylic on paper, 180x140 mm
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Botanical Folio #15, 2024, pen and acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
Botanical Folio #17, 2024, pen and acrylic on handmade Khadi Indian cotton rag paper 640g, 1000x670mm
Stem#S2, 2024, pen and acrylic on paper, 180x140 mm
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Stem#S3, 2024, pen and acrylic on paper, 180x140 mm
Stem#S5, 2024, pen and acrylic on paper, 180x140 mm
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Stem#S4, 2024, pen and acrylic on paper, 180x140 mm
Stem#S6, 2024, pen and acrylic on paper, 180x140 mm
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