Make Love not War - the power of the flower

About

Our gaze makes its way through a theater of flowers. At first glance, these works seem to fall into the tradition of the classic 17th century flower still life. But behind the silence of the still lifes of Margriet Smulders (1955) lies a versatile and dynamic female force. Like a visual epic, the suitable selections of flowers by the artist tell a personal and at the same time, a collective story.

Contour Gallery invites you to: 'MAKE LOVE NOT WAR - the power of the flower',  a solo exhibition by Margriet Smulders, showing a selection from her oeuvre, which she has built up in more than 25 years.

 “I am deeply committed to feminist ideals that encourage women to enter paid employment and go outside the household. At the same time, I am someone who enjoys making her home a warm, welcoming place. For me, these two ideals can coexist. Feminists can be homey too! My work is an endless dialogue with such complex, often contradictory, domestic loose-leaf narratives."

Smulders' versatile oeuvre shows the invincible power of female beauty and the beauty of female strength. Beauty and power change in form, color and context, sometimes apparently contradictory, but consistent in character. The flowers, which change shape and color throughout their life phases, also relate to their environment as living beings. For Smulders, the flower still lifes are therefore portraits of women, each expressing their own character.