Anemones
Floral-epistolary action, 2021.
A series of floral actions commissioned by writer Lisa Robertson to accompany the publishing of her 2021 book, Anemones: A Simone Weil Project. Published by If I Can’t Dance, and designed by Rietlanden Women’s Office, Robertson’s book moves between poetry, translation, and scholarly research into medieval troubadour poetry and the invention of the rime in the historical region of Occitania. As part of the project, Robertson commissioned Nemer to enact a series of floral actions, creating and delivering bouquets to the seven writers and artists to whom her book is dedicated. These performative flower deliveries are ongoing since 2021, taking place in Montreal, Paris, Jutigny, and London.
Nemer writes a letter to Robertson after each floral delivery, describing his encounters with the writers, the flowers he arranged, and philosophical questions that arise in response to the project. His first letter, about his delivery to Montréal poet Erín Mouré, was published in Anemones: a Simone Weil Project. His second letter, about learning of Etel Adnan’s death and therefore delivering flowers to clothing designer Artsi Ifrach instead, became the material for a floral-epistolary action at the Amsterdam launch of Robertson’s book at Ellen deBruijne Projects. The letter was printed as large sheets of floral wrapping paper, which were used to offer anemones to each guest at the launch.
Nemer discussed his contribution to the book, as well as flowers as artistic material, in a radio show recorded at the launch. Moderated by Anik Fournier of If I Can’t Dance, the show focuses primarily on Robertson’s research and writing, with contributions from the Rietlanden Women’s Office and Frederique Bergholtz. The show can be streamed on the Soundcloud account of Ja Ja Ja Nee Nee Nee.
Nemer writes a letter to Robertson after each floral delivery, describing his encounters with the writers, the flowers he arranged, and philosophical questions that arise in response to the project. His first letter, about his delivery to Montréal poet Erín Mouré, was published in Anemones: a Simone Weil Project. His second letter, about learning of Etel Adnan’s death and therefore delivering flowers to clothing designer Artsi Ifrach instead, became the material for a floral-epistolary action at the Amsterdam launch of Robertson’s book at Ellen deBruijne Projects. The letter was printed as large sheets of floral wrapping paper, which were used to offer anemones to each guest at the launch.
Nemer discussed his contribution to the book, as well as flowers as artistic material, in a radio show recorded at the launch. Moderated by Anik Fournier of If I Can’t Dance, the show focuses primarily on Robertson’s research and writing, with contributions from the Rietlanden Women’s Office and Frederique Bergholtz. The show can be streamed on the Soundcloud account of Ja Ja Ja Nee Nee Nee.
Photos by Nemer, Temra Pavlovic, Celia Perrin Sidarous