31 january 2023, Flor Linckens
The flowers of Iris Bergman
Until 19 February, Gallery Untitled in Rotterdam is presenting an understated exhibition by Iris Bergman. She visited nearly two hundred churches and monasteries since 2019, focusing in particular on one specific detail: flower bouquets. Both flowers and churches have a timeless character and they both deal with the transience of earthly life.
Flowers have different functions within the church. Sometimes for decoration or worship, sometimes as part of religious rituals such as a wedding or funeral. Moreover, they are rarely randomly selected. For example, lilies, one of the most popular flowers for funerals, symbolize the "restored innocence of the soul of the deceased," according to a funeral home website. There is also such a thing as 'liturgical flower arranging', in which flowers are used to support a church service. Certain Christian (colour) symbolism and the choice of specific flowers, shapes and materials are taken into account — in order to say something about a biblical theme. These bouquets should evoke a certain inspiration and reflection. Within other religions, including Judaism and Islam, the use of flowers is not always appropriate within a religious context.
Bergman, who was not raised religiously herself, is fascinated by the contrast between the often dark, stately churches and the understated lightness of these bouquets. They symbolize mourning, rebirth, honour and beauty; elements that also play a significant role within the church, and Christianity as a whole. She is also intrigued by the ways in which Christianity is intertwined with our Western culture, even if you are not religious yourself. Bergman was particularly curious about the human gesture behind the bouquets. Of course, the comparison with the vanitas is also not far off. Sometimes the artist encountered proud and exuberant flower bunches, other times a simple vase with five withered sunflowers, which left a trail of cheerful yellow pollen on the altar.
Bergman's practice is characterized by still lifes and landscape photography. But unlike her previous works, like the series "Cosmic Flowers" that she previously presented at Unseen, she has much less control over the composition here and the perfect timing is less fundamental. And where works from that series radiated a certain utopian perfection - or even something otherworldly - the images from the "Flowers for Mary" are marked by a deliberate imperfection.
Bergman considers herself more an artist than a photographer, in part because her work is often fragmented and she regularly adds extra (constructed) layers to the image. For the "Holy Flowers" series, she paid tribute to the golden icons of Christianity. Bergman researched the use of specific flower types and found that there are several variations associated with Saint Mary. She selected five, which she then photographed, screen-printed and printed on gold leaf metal. The result looks vintage, so it could almost have been part of the churches she depicts. Her series "Flowers for Mary" was recently published in a photo book of the same name.
Bergman graduated cum laude from the HKU in Utrecht and, in addition to her artistic practice, works as Bertien van Maanen's personal assistant (since 2015).
