Herbarium

Leaves of Agave
Agavenblätter V
Allium
Leaves of Alocasia
Leaves of Arrowhead
Artichokes
Leaves of Bindweed
Leaves of Bishop’s Hat
Bulrushes
Leaves of Calathea
Calla Lilies
Carnations
Cloverleaves
Daffodils
Leaves of Daffodil
Dahlias
Elegia
Elegia
English Plantain
Fern
Ginger
Ginger Lilies
Leaves of Gladiolus
Gloriosa Superba
Leaves of Handkerchief Tree
Hart’s-tongue Fern
Hydrangeas
Hortensien
Inga Seed Pods
Irises
Leaves of Judas Tree
Leaves of Maize
Mistletoe
Monkey Cups
Narcissi
Leaves of Nasturtium
Leaves of Oleander
Leaves of Passionflower
Leaves of Pepper Tree
Plane Tree Barks
Polypody
Poppy Seed Capsules
Sansevieria
Leaves of Smoke Tree
Spiderworts
Leaves of Strelitzia
Sunflowers
Trumpet Pitchers
Tulips
Water Lilies

Due to my fascination for the world of flora and fauna, I have been working on a group of works called “Herbarium” since 1995. In my explorations, the use of the photogram, pseudo solarisation and tinting are my mediums of choice and they require precise, so to speak alchemistic, experimentation in the darkroom. Contrary to what the title may suggest, my Herbarium is not about an exact representation of the botanical characteristics of a particular species, instead it is the playful exploration of the forms, structures, and radiance of the plant individuals I am portraying. They often appear as mysterious shadowy projections in the photograms, somehow identifiable, yet in a world beyond reality. Each photogram is a unique print and is created in the darkroom: I arrange the plant parts on the photographic paper, which I then expose to light and process in chemical baths.

Christian Greutmann:
Anita Pfau, Text on the Exhibition in the Galerie im Gluri Suter Huus, Wettingen, March 2010
PDF (de) (en)

Rosmarie Tillessen:
Jenseits des Sichtbaren, Süddeutsche Zeitung, September 2005
PDF (de)

Martin Gasser:
Opening speech „Rund um das Fotogramm“, Photoforum PasquArt, Biel, March 2003
PDF (de) (en)

Walter Binder:
Herbarium, Photograms of Anita Pfau, March 2003
PDF (de) (en) (fr)