Rita Soromenho

Source Magazine 

Issue 62 

Page 25

Peripatetic (2007) - Rita Soromenho 

The series of images by Soromenho titled Peripatetic is a series of images that looks at collections and bouquets of flowers. Flowers were used through out history, in the west they were used purely for their decorative appearance. In the 17th century flowers were soon painted, this soon became a genre. During the  Victorian  era botanical life grew and the Victorians almost became the known 'Cult of flowers' Flowers were soon used as a way to brighten up the home, the home being a place of the feminine touches. Flowers began to appear on pillows, furniture, walls, carpets and clothes. At this very same time photography was being developed by Henry Fox-Talbot in the form of photogrmas, this then changed the way that flowers were represented.  

Anna Atkin was another at this time that was making images of flowers with out the use of a camera, her work was based around cyanotypes. This again gave the flowers a new face.  

Soromenho is tiring to understand the complex meaning behind flowers through out culture. Her series is about a journey as well as being inspired by early photographic works on flowers. Each of her images in a way, encapsulates the idea of revelations of the urban space. The idea that with in a concreter jungle there can be natural life. This is reflected in the plants that Soromenho collects for her images. These 'flowers' are more often then not classed as weeds. Her work posses no orchids, lilies or roses, the kinds that you would expect to find in a painting. 

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