The exhibition Rose is a Rose is a Rose derives its title from the iconic phrase by the modernist writer and poet Gertrude Stein. The phrase, which first appeared in her poem Sacred Emily (1913), reflects Stein's exploration of language, repetition, and the symbolic weight of everyday objects. By stripping the rose of preconceived meanings and reducing it to its linguistic essence, Stein celebrated both the simplicity and complexity of words, inviting readers to re-experience their rhythm and resonance. The phrase became emblematic of modernist art's focus on perception, and its rhythmic repetition underscored Stein's innovative approach to poetry.
In this exhibition, artists Joke Raes, Marja Kennis, Thibo Moreels, Mireille Robbe, Stephanie Leblon, and Jonas Vansteenkiste respond to the metaphorical potential of floral motifs. Their works draw from flowers and plants and their myriad meanings—beauty, fragility, transience, and romance—transforming them into visual metaphors. Through painting, sculpture, and mixed media, they engage with the rhythm and symbolism of flowers, echoing Stein's poetic rhythm in their visual compositions.
Each artist brings a unique perspective: Joke Raes with her organic forms, Marja Kennis with her intricate patterns, Thibo Moreels with his romantic paintings, Mireille Robbe with her ethereal images, Stephanie Leblon with her layered paintings, and Vansteenkiste with his conceptual installations. They all explore how floral imagery transcends its superficial beauty to become a vessel for deeper emotional and cultural narratives.
The exhibition creates a lush, metaphorical garden, where the universal symbolism of plants and flowers converges with each artist's subjective vision, celebrating the enduring echo of Stein's words in contemporary art.