This year’s festival features a spectacular display inspired by Chinese heritage and biodiversity.
Taking over the Princess of Wales Conservatory until the 8th of March, the landmark festival draws inspiration from China’s vast landscapes, rich traditions, and extraordinary plant life, including the country’s many diverse species of orchids.
China is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, home to an estimated 10% of the world’s known plant species, and more than 30,000 native plants.
RBG Kew’s Living Collections contain more wild-sourced material from south west China than any other region in the world, offering numerous opportunities for research.
Jackie News sent Kelly Saward to the preview to hear more.
Solène Dequiret is Glass House Manager of the Princess of Wales Conservatory.
Zheng Bo, a Hong Kong-based artist with Bai Yunnanese heritage, creates art inspired by material simplicity and ecological vibrancy. Since 2013, he has been studying plants, and as part of Orchids China will present a series of artworks depicting Chinese calligraphy, telling the story of five orchids who long to migrate to the ocean. His works are in the collections of Tate, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Power Station of Art, and Hammer Museum, and in 2024 he presented Bamboo as Method at Somerset House.
Kelly also met one of the team behind the project, Mark Godber.
