In this work, Jennifer Keeler-Milne depicts Flannel Flowers, endemic Australian plants renowned for their delicate, velvety blooms reminiscent of flannel. The white petals surrounding a yellow center create a luminous and airy contrast, reflecting the fragility and fleeting beauty of Australian nature.

In Australia, Flannel Flowers symbolize purity, delicacy, and resilience, thriving in poor soils and arid regions. Their flowering period generally lasts four to six weeks, from late spring to early summer.

Executed in charcoal on paper, the work brings the flowers’ forms to life through black outlines that define their volume and silhouette, giving each petal its own presence. Like a Chinese shadow, the plant’s silhouette emerges through the contrast of black and white, or recedes from its environment, leaving behind the trace of its absence defined by its contours. The technique evokes cyanotypes, while the smoky texture of the charcoal enhances the sensitive and poetic dimension of the piece. Jennifer Keeler-Milne captures the lightness of the petals and the delicacy of the flora, offering a contemporary and intimate celebration of Australian nature.