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Flora Mundi

‘ A divine connection between heaven and earth that allows the two realms to communicate, and that is often perceived to be the center of the universe ’

Marta Abbott’s exhibition ‘Flora Mundi’ is a collection of the artist’s works connected by the theme of nature and flowers. It is a selection of pieces from various series’ the artist has worked on in recent years while seeking new ways to interpret the beauty of nature. In certain philosophies, the term ‘axis mundi’ refers to a sort of axis of the cosmos. A divine connection between heaven and earth that allows the two realms to communicate, and that is often perceived to be the center of the universe. Throughout history, various cultures and peoples have independently made reference to specific geographical locations, such as  specific mountains, that they believe to be the ‘axis mundi’. Another example of way this concept has manifested itself in the human mind is in the form of a tree. Take the sacred Bhodi tree of Buddhism, for example. Therefore, the title ‘Flora Mundi’ is  in part intended to reflect that the space in which the works are being shown is transformed into a world of flowers, but also to suggest that each flower, no matter if it’s a rose from a garden or a wildflower growing among hundreds of others in a field, is a sort of axis mundi unto itself. A reminder of the  solid, substantial ground it comes from as much as its ethereal, otherworldly beauty and the way it reaches up, seeking a connection with the sky.