'Pascha' is a unique glass artwork by the Canadian artist, Michèle Oberdieck.

Oberdieck's aim is to question the effects of climate change, cross-pollination and human intervention, on the natural world around us, highlighting the precarious future survival of our vast, vital and varied species of plants.

Through intense studies of extinct and endangered species at the Herbarium in Kew Gardens, as well as visits to various plant science research centres, has resulted in her own visual catalogue, from which Oberdieck references to create her series of abstracted and imagined plant forms. In essence, assemblages from this exploration, resulting in stylised hybrid botanicals.

Beginning with gestural sketches, Oberdieck has found glass the perfect medium to bring forth her ideas, immortalising them in this alluring material. By simplifying plants to their core elements, the immediacy of blown glass and its fluidity, capture these forms perfectly, which are then carefully combined for her compositions.

In the artist’s own words;

“The botanical forms start taking on animated qualities resembling insects and birds, as often seen in nature, taking on the role of a mimic. A role that could improve their chances of future survival. Evolving in a way that their characteristics start to blur the boundaries from one species to another.”

Oberdieck hopes that on viewing her Fantasy Plants, not only will we begin to fully appreciate the beauty that can be found around us but that we start to do all we can to preserve it.

The artist can also create pieces to commission, please contact the gallery for further information.