Evan Kolker

Evan Kolker
Oakland, CA United States

The title of this piece refers to the native word for the species "Rafflesia Leonardi" commonly known as the Malaysian corpse flower, which it is meant to represent. This fascinating plant parasitizes the Tetrastigma vine (Tetrastigma voinierianum), and produces none of its own energy producing photosynthetic tissue. It only emerges from its host to produce the the largest known individual flowers in the world, which exude the stench of death and are intended to attract carrion fly's as their primary pollinators. Little is know about the relationship between this species and its host due to its extremely mysterious reproduction cycles, and our inability to artificially propagate it. This species, its host organism, and habitat are considered threatened though fortunately not endangered. This sculpture is rendered out off blown and sculpted glass utilizing the 'Graal' technique to represent the corpse flower, and forged

Dimensions: 14 x 14 x 6 inches