Inspiration-
L’âge des découvertes (Ode à Maria Merian) is inspired by one of the most extraordinary artist-naturalists of the seventeenth century. Maria Sibylla Merian built a career that moved fluidly between art, science and business—an achievement almost unheard of for a woman of her time. Her botanical and entomological illustrations, meticulously observed and vividly composed, remain some of the most influential works in the history of natural science.

From childhood Merian showed an unusual ability to bridge disciplines. She raised silkworms, studied insects directly from life, and painted flowers and caterpillars with an accuracy that far surpassed the conventions of her age. She refused the separation of aesthetics and research; instead, she produced images that were simultaneously scientific records and works of art. Her publications—including the groundbreaking Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium—documented insect life cycles and their host plants with unparalleled clarity, transforming entomology and reshaping European understanding of the natural world.

Her contributions extended far beyond the studio. At the age of fifty-two Merian undertook a self-funded expedition to Dutch Surinam to study plants and insects in their natural environments—an act of independence and scientific ambition that defied the male-dominated structures of early modern science. Her work challenged accepted theories, corrected misinformation, and emphasised ecological relationships long before ecology existed as a formal discipline.

Merian’s legacy is a testament to the power of curiosity, discipline and imaginative enquiry. She demonstrated that knowledge is built through attention, that art can illuminate science, and that observation is a creative act. Her life and work continue to inspire artists, scientists, and naturalists alike, standing as a reminder that discovery and creativity are deeply intertwined.

This artwork is created in that spirit. Through hand-cut collage, female portraiture, flower specimens, silk moths, cocoons, photograms and hand-stitched freshwater pearls, the piece engages directly with Merian’s methods, subjects and worldview. It honours her commitment to understanding transformation, her pursuit of knowledge, and her enduring impact on how we see the natural world.