The exhibition features oil paintings based around the theme of plants – a subject which has currently become a trademark and a synonym of Ryan Falzon’s oeuvre. Falzon goes a step further by including figures in his greenery inundated interiors. This comes as no surprise. Falzon amalgamates the concept from his Botanica series with another series titled Selfies, which has not yet been exhibited.

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The Covid-19 pandemic proved to be quite a comfort zone for Falzon, who describes himself as a reserved individual. The halt in the rush of the everyday life and the lack of social pressure brought about by social restrictions, gave him opportunity to breathe and reflect, without experiencing the fear of missing out. Just like many others confined inside domestic spaces during several periods in the past two years, Falzon emphasizes that plants were of a great comfort during the pandemic. Just like painting, indoor gardening is a solitary activity which encourages reflection, routine and growth. An avid gardener himself, Falzon finds comfort in these two parallels activities.

 

The evolution of indoor gardening is considered as a significant branch in social history studies. From the hanging gardens of Babylon to the craze for newly discovered specimens imported from the New World during the Victorian era to the 2020’s plant boom, plants offered grounding, nutrition, and comfort.

 

​This pandemic showed us how much the human being craves companionship, and plants are a perfect non-demanding companion. The lack of commitment required by plants created this wordplay on the title Friends with Plants.

 

So, we invite you to become a friend with a plant.