tulips

2017 – ongoing

objects with promises

valuable bulbs made of a precious material, but still just bulbs. the real value is the anticipation, the prospect of something fantastic. the bulb as impetus for a fiction.

this work is based on the dutch „tulip mania“ from the 17th century, when tulips became objects of speculation. at that time trade catalogues existed, which served to arouse the desire of the buyers. as the bulbs were partially buried at the time of purchase, these drawings were a preview of the flowering. the heavier the bulb and the rarer the colour of the flower, the more expensive it was. incredibly expensive bulbs were sold and the belief that one of these flowers would grow from them. yet some of these flowers never existed and were images of the painters‘ imagination.