Floral elements are essential in various settings, from cityscapes to countryside. Dandelions may spring up through pavement cracks, wildflowers may grace highway medians, or poppies could blanket hillsides. We might observe the season of their blooming and relate that to our shifting climate. Perhaps we recognize their life cycles: bud, bloom, wither, seed. However, flowers convey even more through their vibrant appearances: The specific shapes they embody are influenced by both local and global climatic factors.
The structure of a flower visually represents its climate, if one knows what signs to interpret. In a parched year, the pigment of its petals may alter. During a warm year, the bloom could increase in size. The flower’s ultraviolet-absorbing pigment intensifies with elevated ozone levels. As climate continues to evolve, how could flowers adapt?
An artistic investigation named Plant Futures envisions how a singular flower species could evolve in response to climate change from 2023 through 2100—and encourages us to contemplate the intricate, enduring effects of our warming planet. This initiative has generated a flower representing each year from 2023 to 2100. Each iteration is grounded in data, derived from climate predictions and studies on how climate affects floral visual properties.
Plant Futures originated during an artistic endeavor in Helsinki, where I collaborated closely with biologist Aku Korhonen to comprehend how climate change impacted the local ecosystem. While wandering through the ancient Haltiala forest, I became acquainted with the Circaea alpina, a diminutive flower that was once scarce in that region but has become more prevalent as temperatures have escalated in recent years. However, its ecosystem is fragile: The plant thrives in shade and moisture, and the spruce trees that create these conditions are declining due to emerging forest pathogens. I pondered: What if the Circaea alpina could endure despite climatic unpredictability? If the dark, shaded bogs transform into bright meadows and the wet terrain dries, how would the flower adjust to survive? The flower’s potential became the foundation of the project.
Outside of the forest, I engaged with botanical specialists at the Luomus Botanical Collections. I analyzed Circaea flower specimens dating back to 1906 and examined historical climate data to grasp how flower size and coloration correlated with yearly temperature and precipitation trends.
I studied how various flowering plants reacted to shifts in their climate and contemplated how the Circaea might need to adapt to flourish in a future environment. If such transformations occurred, what would the Circaea resemble in 2100?
Based in Copenhagen, Annelie Berner is a designer, researcher, educator, and artist specializing in data visualization.
