In Alice - Conversations with flowers, botanical artist Annie Kavanagh explores the floral world of her Victorian-era muse, Alice, through an immersive, interactive, multi-sensory experience staged in a Victorian parlour.

"Flowers speak their own language. A universal language of beauty, loss, love, joy, fear and hope that transcends borders and cultures. My work is concerned with the exploration of flowers as metaphors for human activity and our place in ecology." Annie Kavanagh, botanical artist.

English born, Annie Kavanagh, is a photographic artist who lives and works on her farm, Roselyn (circa 1887), in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia. Her floral art, reminiscent of Dutch Master paintings, is created entirely on her iPhone. Her work explores the cultural and environmental significance of flowers. She is also a gardener and floral arranger.

Alice - Conversations with flowers tells the story of Alice's rose garden through the roses typically grown in the era. Using only flowers grown by the artist, Alice's florilegium is recreated with a series of floral portraits and multi-layered images.

The exhibition at Gallery 152 will see the gallery transformed into a Victorian parlour. Guests will be invited to engage with the space and for a while, immerse themselves in Alice's world, contemplate what life was like for women like her in the 1880s, question why their gardens were cherished, and the importance of these flowers to them.

Throughout the exhibition, Alice's parlour will play host to guest speakers, immersive events, and sensory experiences. From experts on garden history and perfumery, artist talks and an alcohol-free botanic bar, to a unique dinner celebrating flowers and farm, join us in the parlour as we weave flowers into stories.

For more information and to book into the events, visit theroselynproject.com/exhibition

Opening by Professor Kingsley Dixon at 1pm on Saturday 29 April, 2023, includes a Welcome to Country by Marion Kickett.

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