When I visited Kew in the summer of 2013, one of the highlights was coming across the work of Rory McEwen in the Gallery of Botanical Art. His depictions of flowers and leaves, staggering in their precision and beauty, took my breath away.
There was mention of a TV programme about him made by Jools Holland, his son-in-law – although they never met. I missed it in 2013 but tonight it was screened again on BBC 4. You can watch it on iPlayer (available until 13th March).
Lovely to be reminded of this gifted man who excelled at everything he did – music, television, art, family and friendship. Here are some of his tulips, a flower he returned to again and again.
Tulipomania
After Rory McEwen
§
What binds you is a puzzle,
nub ruched in chlorophyll;
vellum high-drama – those push-me
pull-you strokes I must pluck out
my eyes to elucidate.
Old English Striped Tulip ‘Sam Barlow’
§
Flamingoed half to death,
queer, alcoholic pink,
I accuse you a keeper of secrets,
kisser of bruised lips,
inarticulate with desire.
‘Columbine’ Bybloemen Breeder
§
Darling, your encrypted coral
is wave and particle, wet
and dry. You are a creature
of the sea, plus its shell-like:
an old Venetian paradox.
‘Julia Farnese’ Rose Feathered
§
You break with tradition,
expose what you wouldn’t
even call flaws, delineate
your own vade mecum, risk
the interior, canyon and gorge.
‘Mabel’ Flamed
§
Cheeky, sticking out your bum,
knowing I’ll chase you forever,
never catch you up – licked
sherbet’s tingle and fizz; a chameleon
of blown, exploded glass.
Tulip ‘Red and Yellow’
§
Your life as a parrot
is a sly disguise, utter nakedness;
raucous, a knack for tricks,
showing off, sudden flight.
Without you, I’m bereft.
‘James Wild’ Feathered
§
Too good for this world,
double-dutch; two of you
down on your knees, so much
to long for, starless; then
the deep V of love.
‘Habit de Noce’ Bybloemen Feathered
§
Neither vegetable nor fruit,
are you the devourer
or the devoured? No one
could be more open
without stumbling into dying.
‘Helen Josephine’ Rose Breeder
§
Given in to gravity, you
let yourself go – your widowed
grains of pollen, full stops
on thin air. I count six tongues,
nothing else to be mad about.
‘Dying Tulip 1’
Really lovely – both the paintings and the poems. Breathtaking, in fact. Thank you.
Thank you Linda I’ll look for this prog when back home. I love tulips! Love from Spain (Andalusia to be precise) mx
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Thanks for these kind responses. I really would encourage you to watch the programme and look out for his work – it’s stunning.
L
x
I watched it last night. Very moving.
Thanks for flagging the programme up… I have vague memories of Hootennanie shows and Tonight..fascinating..even notoriously grumpy Van Morrison came out to sing his praises!…the poems are stunning,a worthy accompaniment to brilliant paintings…..and the man was an authentic singer and guitarist!!
Poems racy and exciting – a pure thrill with those luscious paintings.
Looking forward to viewing this show. Rory is one of my idols and in my work I refer to his images regularly. He had set the bar high for us who endeavor to participate in this wonderful art form.