Inspired by his long-term interest in indigenous plants, each of Andrew Putter’s twelve new artworks – collectively titled Flowers of the Cape Peninsula, Vol. 1 – focuses on a different plant indigenous to the Cape Peninsula, where he has lived and worked his entire life. The Cape is the most species-rich plant kingdom in the world, packing in more botanical diversity per square meter than even the planet’s rain forests. This floral abundance has provided Putter with rich creative opportunities.
Putter’s new body of art brings to mind 17th century Dutch flower paintings, Henri Matisse’s paper cut-outs, Andy Warhol screen prints and David Hockney’s iPad drawings. Over the five years of preparing to make these new works, Putter returned again and again to these influences.