Black Sea by Megan Seiter

Black Sea is part of a series of drawings that I conceived of in 2020 during the global shutdown. Each drawing in this series depicts an orchid suspended in midair with its roots exposed. The concept stems from the thought that, amidst the great loss, stress, and fear of the pandemic, we were able to see facets of humanity that we wouldn’t otherwise have experienced. As individuals and as a society our underbelly was exposed.

I’m an artist with a strong proclivity toward botanical still life drawings. I wondered what it would look like if I exposed the roots of an orchid, showing the plant in its entirety rather than in a more traditional potted setting. Would the roots be tightly bound or loose and flowing? Healthy or sickly? By arranging the entire plant in this unique manner I hope to offer a new experience and understanding of a flower that seems so familiar.