A series of fine photographs of budding flowers of different scientific classifications will be on display throughout the month of October.
Each photograph is vibrantly colorful and intimately detailed. Such titles as “Twenty or More Men In the Same Bridal Chamber” or “Two Of Them Tall and Two Short” might seem grotesque for photographs of flora and fauna, yet the titles are apt, and you’ll have to visit the exhibit to know what I mean.
Louis Illes, the associate dean of science and health, said of the photos, “Their visual beauty is breathtaking.” In this collection, however, scientific relevance takes precedence over visual style: The principle purpose of the photos is to capture the sexual reproduction of plants.
The artist responsible for the resplendent productions is Pauline Snoeijs, a professor of ecological botany at the University of Stockholm. Her work as a professor is only a small tangent to her many talents. In addition to being a photographer, she has authored a new book, The Bridal Chambers of Linnaeus.
Karl Linnaeus is considered to be the most famous scientist in Sweden, and his work has been studied extensively throughout Europe. He is widely considered the father of modern taxonomy. The photographs on the fifth floor of the library are “a celebration of Linnaeus,” according to Louis Illes.
Students who find the exhibit to be exceptionally intriguing might be glad to hear that the science department will be offering a bachelor’s degree in Botany beginning this coming year. Such a program will distinguish UVU from other universities in Utah. Many other schools have discontinued their botany programs, meaning this will be a point of highlight for UVU in coming years. For anyone interested in pursuing this degree, be sure to visit the biology department or the Dean’s office for more information.
In the meantime, take a trip to the fifth floor of the library and bask in the intricate beauties of Pauline Snoejis photographic work.
