The Overwhelming World of Desire (Phragmipedium Sedenii)

This orchid sculpture gives no indication that it came from one of the Young British Artists, a group of artists mainly known for their provocative works and their use of mechanisms of the art market, all while holding a mirror up to the art industry. For example, Marc Quinn made a self-portrait out of his own blood and a life-size sculpture of Kate Moss out of pure gold.

The Overwhelming World of Desire was part of the Statements 7 exhibition presented by Dornbracht for the 50th Biennale di Venezia in 2003. It is now located on its own small island in Seilersee as a permanent loan.

In terms of form, it is situated somewhere between Quinn’s 2000 work Garden, an installation made up of actual frozen flowers, and his photographic works that also depict orchids. Although the massively oversized flower is flat like a picture, the front and back depict a naturalistic representation of the flower.

The work’s effect comes primarily from its massive size. When compared in terms of proportion, people become like insects, diligently going about their business, perhaps driven by an overwhelming desire for the vitality and life force that flower represents.

Additional information:
www.cultureprojects.com/pressdtl.aspx?id=1650&cid=24&lng=de,
www.dornbracht.com/de/index.htm?nav=1024&cid=89&id=1131