We imagine stepping into Kew Gardens’ latest exhibition is much like diving headfirst into a bag of pick ’n’ mix – sherbet lemons, Parma violets and hundreds and thousands-coated jazzies included. Opening tomorrow, the psychedelic, cotton candy-hued installation is the work of Australian artist Tanya Schultz, aka Pip & Pop, who’s known for creating larger-than-life, whimsical immersive artworks.
After a string of shows in China, the USA and Australia, When Flowers Dream is her London debut, showcasing an eclectic mix of vibrant rainbow artworks made from sugar, clay, sweets and random objects collected during her global travels. But though the sparkle-dusted exhibition may seem like it was dreamed up by Willy Wonka, the message behind it is a little more savoury. As part of Kew’s Food Forever summer programme, the ‘food fantasia’ aims to draw attention to issues of overconsumption and food extinction, after a recent report by Kew found that two in five plants worldwide are currently under threat of extinction. As well as the show taking over the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, the programme includes film screenings, talks and four large-scale installations by Danish, Ghanaian and Argentinian artists in an interactive trail around the gardens. Food for thought, indeed. 21 May to 5 March; £19.50; Kew Gardens, London TW9