In Pursuit of Knowledge (Ode to Maria Merian)

Title | IN THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE (ODE TO MARIA MERIAN) Type | Original 3D Papercut CyanotypeInspiration | Maria Sybilla MerianYear | 2024 Materials | 3d papercut cyanotype, handmade paper 11.5in x 13.7in x 1.6in Inspiration- This artwork was inspired by Maria Sibylla Merian, a pioneer in art, science, and business. From an early age Merian was an accomplished painter of flowers and insects and an entomologist, possessing a great ability to move between art and science. Fusing artistic endeavour and nature observation, her fascinating paintings defied Victorian categorisation. They are a fitting monument to such an unusual figure whose life, too, was a blaze of colour making her one of the greatest artist‐naturalists of her time. Technique- In The Pursuit Of Knowledge (Ode To Maria Merian) was created by constructing a hand-cut collage using female photographic portraiture and photograms and photographs of flower specimens, silk moths and cocoons. After coating the handmade