Coral Tree

About Bruce Boyd

Together with artist Tharien Smith, Bruce Boyd developed an extremely elaborate technique in which they freeze flower arrangements in ice over the course of several days. Then they put these blocks of ice into rivers or lakes. This makes… Read more

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Together with artist Tharien Smith, Bruce Boyd developed an extremely elaborate technique in which they freeze flower arrangements in ice over the course of several days. Then they put these blocks of ice into rivers or lakes. This makes cracks in the ice or causes bubbles to form inside it. The flowers become part of an active transformation. Only then do Boyd and Smith begin taking photographs. Randomness and intention are both at play here, as are enchanting beauty and dynamic unpredictability. Sometimes a blossom juts out of the ice block and changes color. Cracks might make another flower appear to be broken up into several pieces. Every one of Boyd’s pieces is unique with its own character and charm.

Bruce Boyd is a young artist based in Cape Town, South Africa. He grew up in a house full of flowers; his mother picked and arranged them, and his father painted them. The entire house was decorated with these pictures, meaning the entire family was constantly surrounded by flowers. While researching artists who work with flowers, Bruce came across the work of Azuma Makoto and Kenji Shibata. They inspired him to experiment, leading to the creative process that defines the series 0˚C.