The Wisdom of Elders, Cactus
This cactus, also known as the ‘prickly pear’, is an edible species of cacti and can be found either with or without spines. Historically, this cactus was a dependable source of food, not only for those in the Cayman Islands but across other parts of the Western Hemisphere where these plants grow. Here, artists Hartwell and Ferehawk place the smaller cactus in the foreground of the composition – its brilliant greens contrasting with the bright pinks of the background – with a second, blurred plant, behind, almost as a shadow. As referenced in the title The Wisdom of Elders, the latter is positioned in the role of the elder, which is a comment on the practice of tradition being passed from generation to generation. Ferehawk and Hartwell collaboratively created this series of emblematic portraits of native flora as a visual marker of the physical environment and natural traditions of the Cayman Islands.
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.