(Personal work, 2017)

The inspiration for the “Sprouting & Rotting” series came unexpectedly while I was in the kitchen. I noticed some very old vegetables that had begun to sprout and, in some cases, rot. This observation sparked a deeper reflection on the life cycles of these vegetables.

In this series, I explore the dual processes of sprouting and rotting, both of which serve the same ultimate purpose: reproduction. Some vegetables decompose and release their seeds, while others utilize the nutrients of the mother fruit to sprout and develop roots. Eventually, the mother fruit dies, giving rise to a new plant that will produce fruit once again.

This natural cycle of life, death, and rebirth is beautifully illustrated through these images, capturing the transformative processes that occur as old life gives way to new. Through this series, I invite viewers to appreciate the intricate and often overlooked stages of plant life, celebrating the resilience and continuity of nature.

The series of images was made in 2017, around this period i’ve started to work more with series that share the same theme and style.

For the colours and style I found inspiration in my love for painting, in terms of light they are based on the chiaroscuro technique, where I use one very soft light source. The images have a central composition in a square frame, with many dark umber colours. The intention was to give them a somewhat picturesque feel.

©Wesley Dombrecht