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Foliage Mag:

Plants made personal

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Crafting an article that seamlessly blended artistic expression with factual insights about nature and art was a creative challenge.

Ensuring the media kit visually captured the essence of the magazine while being comprehensive and professional required meticulous attention to detail.

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Getting into Foliage

Eeshwa Jiwan: On Preservation

Long before high-resolution scanning and digital photography could exert their measureless impact on how we view foliage, it has been human nature to replicate their meandering shapes and shades for aesthetic and scientific purposes. We see proof of this in ancient stone carvings and watercolour diagrams, closely examining all imaginable parts of plants and flowers.

Flora and fauna were recurring motifs in Classical art. After this it died out for the pragmatic imagery of the dark ages and mediaeval periods, but flourished again during the Renaissance, but only as a backdrop to human allegories.

Even in current times replicating nature in art is an instinct we have not let go of. So much contemporary art is inspired by a primal connection between nature and the artists. Foliage Magazine had the chance to sit down with Eeshwa Jiwan, a Jodhpur based photographer who loves plants more than people.

The appreciation for nature runs like a thread through Eshwa Jiwan’s hands. In conversation with Eeshwa, we explored her creative process. We understood what exactly drives her to practise preservation in such a unique manner. When asked to describe her practice in three words, Eeshwa chose "observational, personal and meditative." She said, "I like to slowly watch my surroundings and document them somewhat rapidly. This may seem antithetical, but the spontaneity of the shot, backed up by hours upon hours of observation, is what makes everything come together for me."

Earthy tones and an almost eerie sense of humanity are the themes that dominate in Eeshwa's work. There is a meditative energy at play here, and it has everything to do with how she captures nature.

"I was introduced to photography in college," she says. "Soon after that, I had a spiritual awakening of sorts. I had the desire to be more connected with myself and embrace the fact that my life is fleeting." As she further explains her connection with nature, she tells us, "I started going to a specific peepal tree every morning. I sat there journaling and collecting my thoughts for the day. It felt like the tree and I were becoming friends and that he had a lot to teach me. From this peepal, I learnt that life's purpose does not always have to be profound." Eeshwa started seeing herself in this friend that she made. So after months of silent observation, Eeshwa clicked her first self-portrait series, "Soul Tress".

"Preservation is very important to me," says Eeshwa. "I have found that it helps me have a deeper understanding and appreciation for the things that are in my life." Eeshwa celebrates the artistic power of plants while juxtaposing it against our own fleeting nature. She explores this further in her photo story "Distorted Memories". "We carry a little bit of ourselves every day in photographs. We leave, we mark, we pose. A story we make of ourselves, something my parents must have done or their parents passed them down as memories. Now I have my stories with their memories. They last elongated and embossed with beautiful wilt in my story. When my mind feels empty, these stories drag me out and hug me with the dried scent of mogra or rose," explains Eeshwa.

Looking at Eeshwa's work, it is safe to say that despite her many successes, nature is one of the most important things in her life. "Nature, for me, is the closest thing to the meaning of life. It helped me gain perspective of the bigger picture, whether that be spending time in nature, observing the colours it presents or through looking at the scientific and emotional intelligence of plants."

A look from Eshwa’s “Soul Tress”

“Distorted Memories”

Stephen Eichhorn

Collage King, Stephen Eichhorn, combines two of the most delightful things – felines and flora. From kittens and cacti to a burmese that is blossoming, he creates intricate botanical cut-outs, which he uses to adorn his furry subjects. Pure purrfection

Anna Valdez

California-based artist Anna Valdez, makes paintings where she replaces people with plants. Her vibrant, expansive works depict bright, airy rooms, luscious greenery and carefully arranged tidbits. Her canvases are like Dutch still lifes for the emerging generation, in which each item is imbued with strong resonance.

Adrienne Adar

Adrienne Adar transforms potted succulents into musical instruments.When touched by human hands, they release pops, crackles, beats and strums that invite people to touch the spines of cacti, and imagine the silent sounds the plants are making when being caressed and question our audio visual and sensory relationship with plant-life.

Adar wants to take the household plants we usually keep as decorations in our houses purely for aesthetic reasons, and remind us of their beauty and life.

Here is a look at 3 contemporary artists who have a unique connection to nature

How to love your Houseplants

For some, an appreciation of the natural world comes quite naturally. In contrast, for others, it is something that must be sought out. A need to connect with nature

So many people shy away from a home garden because they are afraid they have a brown thumb. We are here to tell you that there is no such thing! As long as you have a heart that is willing to bloom, your plants will too.

First and foremost, you must understand that plants are living beings like you. Plants have their own needs. They like to be watered and pruned, and dusted on their schedule. Not yours. All of them have different personalities. Some are needy, some are fiercely independent and persevere through the most unlikely events, and some just exist, enjoying themselves. Understanding what each plant needs is crucial to loving them, and it is not that hard! Plants are experts at communicating their needs to us. The key is to keep a close eye on the colour, texture and moisture of all parts of the plants. Soil dry and leaves drooping? You need to water! Yellow spots on the leaves and muddy soil? Too much water! Your buddy needs a bit of sun. If you're unsure what a particular symptom means, don't hesitate to ask your local nursery owner, plant enthusiast, or just look it up!

Let there be light! And air and nutrients and clean leaves and…

Plants have specific needs they absolutely can't go without. Even indoor plants need light. And even plants who love a lot of water need drainage holes to get air at their roots. Even the roughest, toughest leaf on the block needs its leaves cleaned from time to time. These are just biological needs of every plant that must be fulfilled, so make sure you respect these fundamental foliage rights, and do what you can to provide them.

Lastly, you must understand that you and your houseplants share a symbiotic relationship from the moment you take them in. They need you for all things biological and emotional. And you have them to be a friend who can listen and sit with you without judgement. They will help you connect to a part of yourself you may not have known existed. They brighten up your space and make your life more lively.

On Love, Loss, and Flowers Forever

Concrete, skyscrapers, manicured lawns and perfectly pruned gardens. In a time of perfectionism and glamour, there lies a subconscious will to gravitate towards beauty that lies outside this polished sphere. When the fast-paced lives we lead disconnect us from the real world, there is something to be said about championing people's connection to nature for preserving oneself and the natural world.

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