Nurture studies

The photos Scherer has produced for 'Nurture Studies' recall the illustrations in 17th-century botanical encyclopaedias, which presented flowers roots and all. Her work also has strong similarities with 1970s plant books, in which indoor plants were often arranged on a pedestal and set off with fabrics that added a romantic touch to the whole. Despite her clear references to these predecessors, Scherer effortlessly avoids the perceived cosiness of the pot plant genre, producing images that are bare, unadorned and original.