A Popular Cut Flower, Likely Responsible for the Decline of Entire Populations

The work is part of the series Contain Thoughts on Fleetingness
The series is based on a botanical collection compiled by the artist’s mother during her school years. Through this material, the work reflects on the relationship between nature and humanity, and on the passage of time. Transience is layered into the works through photographs, techniques, and materials, revealing traces and memories of different eras. At the same time, the series carries with it a shared memory of schoolwork familiar to many generations.

This extensive body of work comprises more than 80 pieces, each created from different plant specimens. The works are photographic collages that combine hand-printed cyanotypes and pigment prints in an experimental way. The images are made without a camera, as photograms: dried plants from the original botanical collection are placed directly onto the light-sensitive cyanotype surface. Cyanotype is traditionally known for its characteristic blue tone, but Hanén has further developed the technique and expanded its color range, giving each work its own tone and atmosphere.

Every artwork is unique, but there are variations of it. Artwork is framed using white-tinted pine frame that is handcrafted in Finland with UV/non-reflective/museum glass, mounted with corner brackets or hanging wire.