This work is now named "Last Gasp" - after the 17th C German/Dutch artist Maria Sybilla Merian, and in these last days of Spring, which feel like winter petal #5 has been pinned and the tail of a dragonfly appears in the left hand corner, but this is for a separate work. Day 14 - the 6th petal is almost complete. "Last Gasp" is also shown with the original painting by Maria, c.1670. This is the most complex and time consuming reinterpretation I have undertaken in the past 3 year 'Sanctuary' project, there are so many tiny pieces (I estimate at least 700 fragments of embroidery and lace and many more pins - it's like textile surgery). As the books she published of her flower paintings were for others to "copy, embroidery or enjoy" and to allow her to make a living, I wonder would Maria Sybilla Merian be happy that i am reinterpreting her work - I hope so? (The last photo is by Marcel Aucar - Vogue Living).
