Title: Love is the only flower
Description: This collection supports and promotes awareness to the important mission and framework of the Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here Coalition's focus on the lasting power of the written word and the arts in support of the free expression of ideas, the preservation of shared cultural spaces, and the importance of responding to attacks, both overt and subtle, on artists, writers, and academics working under oppressive regimes or in zones of conflict, despite the destruction of that literary/cultural content.

"It's been observed in recent discussions that my work focuses on nature and death and it's true I am interested in nature, and I use remains and natural forms in my work; but what I search for is more the echo or essence of these things. I try to create some sense of presence in the individual works and bring them together to see what they have to say to each other. I've recently been drawn towards botanical studies; I began making drawings on residencies in Georgia and Portugal. The different atmosphere of these locations; natural political and emotional seems to be concentrated in these quiet life forms. I've joined the Irish Society of Botanical Artists to explore the traditional practice of Botanical Art, and to enjoy the experience of working with other botanical artists. I hope to develop something that reflects the sentient nature of plants; such artists as Thornton or Mapplethorpe inspire me. I continue with my multi-disciplined installation pieces, the main focus of my work"--Statement from artist's website (viewed June 30, 2015).
Subjects: Violence, Pictorial works, Booksellers and bookselling, Bombings, Iraq War, 2003-2011, Protest movements, Books and reading in art, Intellectual life, Social conditions, Censorship, Terrorism in art, In art, War and civilization, Vehicle bombs, Visual literature, Specimens, Wild flowers in art, Nature, Artists' books, Al-Mutanabbi Street Coalition
Places: Iraq, Baghdad, Ireland, Wexford
People: Sarah Lewtas
Time periods: 21st century