Femme Fatale, Salvia
‘Cayman sage’ is an ever-blooming plant endemic specifically to Grand Cayman. Once thought to be extinct, the plant was rediscovered on a Queen’s Highway road verge and efforts by conservationists have since focused on its protection. The title reference seeks to humanise the plant as seductive yet potentially threatening, just as many plants and organisms carry ‘beautiful but deadly’ associations. Artists Hartwell and Ferehawk showcase the salvia plant growing high above the tall grass, the symmetrical plant embellished with a stunning blue flower triumphantly growing towards the peak of the stem. The background is intentionally left in a minimalist style highlighting the Cayman sage as the main feature of this image, with the surrounding elements positioned to frame and enhance its features.
About the Artist
Bill Ferehawk and David Hartwell
Known as Collective Artist Collective, Ferehawk and Hartwell live and work in Los Angeles as commercial artists in the film industry. Together they have created numerous works and installations as an ongoing investigation into the ways places and histories are marked and remembered. This series of photographs was taken in 2019 at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park when the pair were Artists-in-Residence at the National Gallery.