Flowers have long symbolized beauty, joy, and transformation. Traditionally linked to femininity and domesticity, they were often seen as delicate and transient. In this series, Claerhout revisits this historically loaded theme with a bold, contemporary lens—elevating it to one of strength, status, and timelessness.

Centering on dahlias from her own garden, she begins by arranging them into theatrical scenes where light and shadow play a key role, shaping depth and contrast. From these orchestrated settings, she creates compositions that become the foundation for my paintings. In them, she strives to capture the grandeur of the flower in a way that honors the Old Masters while remaining modern and personal.

By transforming this traditionally feminine-coded subject into something vivid and commanding, Claerhout bridges past and present — pushing the expressive boundaries of the still-life tradition.