Still Life with Orchid I, Banana Orchid
The banana orchid is the national flower of the Cayman Islands. Those found in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman have a slightly different appearance than those in Grand Cayman. The flowers on the Sister Islands display brilliant yellows and purples, while in Grand Cayman the flowers present gradients of whites and purples that are shades cooler in colour. The banana orchid derives its name from the shape of its pseudobulb at the base of the plant, which resembles the named fruit. The orchid undergoes periods of rest to prepare for flowering seasons, and only blooms once a year. This period of rest results in a dried pseudobulb, and Caymanian folklore states that these bulbs were once carved out and used as pipes by early settlers.
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.