Emma Bourke

Emma Bourke’s studio is a sea of tiny, colourful leaves, petals and other plant parts. While researching the famous glassmakers Leopold and Rudolf Blaschka, Emma discovered they built their scientific models in sections. This how she now works, painstakingly creating hundreds of miniature components before assembling them into a finished piece. To anyone else this might seem monotonous, but Emma cheerfully explains that working this way means she can tackle multiple projects at once. Her work speaks of folklore and cultural identity, exploring the concept of biophilia: the innate human tendency to seek connections with nature.

Next of Europe Exhibition