In Herbarium Indicum, artist Alex Davis presents a captivating series of monochromatic botanical paintings that mark a significant new direction in his practice. The collection delves into the artist's lifelong interest in science and the natural world, translated into a powerful and focused visual language.
At the heart of each work is a meticulously rendered botanical drawing, capturing the intricate, larger-than-life details of a single indigenous Indian flower. This precise illustration is then completely enveloped in a single, dominant color, a technique inspired by colour field painting. This bold use of monochrome isolates the subject, stripping it down to its essential form, line, and texture. The saturation of colour transforms the scientific study into an emotive, almost abstract experience, compelling the viewer to engage with the plant's raw and delicate structure in a new light.
The subjects are drawn from a deep well of personal memory and careful observation—from flowers encountered during the artist's childhood in the lush foliage of Kerala to specimens observed on travels to the Himalayas. The result is a powerful collection that balances scientific precision with poetic expression. Each piece elicits a sense of a fleeting moment, capturing the unique fragility, strange rawness, and profound beauty of the botanical world.
