Anthriscus sylvestris

Anthriscus sylvestris, Cow’s Parseley, ‘Nieuwe Meer’ in Amsterdam Spring 2021

Cow’s Parsley is embroidered in its own colours. The white flowers dyed the silk thread yellow. The leaves produced a dark green and a pink colour; the acidity of the solution also influenced the colour. The root collar, where the root meets the stem, produced a light blue colour, and the roots several hues of silver.

 

Cow’s Parsely is embroidered in its full size: 1,8 meter high and 1 meter wide.

 

The background of the embroidery is silk tulle, unworked it is off-white in colour.

Process

A Cow’s Parseley leave has sometimes red and green colours.

Anthriscus sylvestris, Cow’s Parseley

I transfer the plant onto silk. I do this using a technique also employed in herbal medicine: infusions. The idea behind it is: removing matter creates space for the spirit. An intangible body of the plant appears in colour on the silk thread. Using these colours, I embroider the portrait of the plant in its own hues.

Bobbins in various colours, ranging from roots to flowers, have been placed on the wooden bar. The bar with the bobbins is 10 cm high, 14 cm wide and 1 cm deep.

More Plant Portraits