Following the success of our previous three oversized monographs by Ron van Dongen, we are delighted to announce this fourth publication of his gorgeous, large-scale botanical still lifes. Superbly printed in duotone, hardbound, and covered in Japanese green cloth, Ops Opis presents a new selection of the artist’s utterly seductive images. The focal point of van Dongen’s lens ranges from the mouth-wateringly perfect bunch of grapes, to the glorious exuberance of flowers in full bloom and the daintier, more demure floral specimens. He shows us that plants are delicate and resourceful, decorative and essential, and temptingly tactile while commanding respect. But perhaps above all, he presents them as things of great beauty to linger over and enjoy. Born in Venezuela, Ron van Dongen grew up in Holland, where he studied Health Science and Biology before moving on to study Photography in San Francisco. He now lives in Portland, Oregon, where he grows and nurtures the plants that he so elegantly portrays. Van Dongen’s work has been widely exhibited in the United States, Europe and Asia, and is housed in many important collections worldwide. Introduction and interview with the artist by Jane Jackson.
