Story behind the art of Rebecca Davies

Curious Allies: Mutualism in Fungi, Parasites, and Carnivores

The Fifth New York Botanical Garden Triennial

Bergen County Bounty

Daedaleopsis confragosa, blushing bracket and Flavoparmelia caperata, common greenshield lichen

Amanita muscaria var. guessowii, American yellow fly agaric

Ricasolia quercizans, smooth lungwort

Boletus campestris, field bolete

Parmotrema hypotropum, powdered ruffle lichen

The brief for this exhibition filled me with excitement, but also with trepidation! Having never studied or painted fungi or lichen, I was uncertain where to begin. My search began tentatively, but I soon realized that fascinating subject choices were everywhere! Suddenly I could not leave my house without bringing home a plethora of captivating specimens to study, hence the inclusion of multiple fungi and lichen.

Although I did not intend this piece to be purely a scientific illustration, an understanding of the organisms’ characteristics had to be my starting point to aid accurate identification and to understand the inner workings of these fascinating specimens. As well as performing my own research, I was hugely grateful to receive help from various resources to confirm genus and variety, including the Plant Office at New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). With the help of my microscope, I was able to look deep into this new and enchanting world and see the unexpected. I decided to portray each subject at life size, with intercepting circles that reveal what I viewed through the microscope, magnified to five or 10 times life size.

Researching my subjects under the lens of mutualism was intriguing and serves as a reminder of the importance of drawing attention to the vital roles that fungi and lichen play within our ecosystem. Both Amanita muscaria and Boletus campestris are examples of fungi that grow in mycorrhizal symbiosis with trees, and in the case of these specimens, with a great oak. The fungi help the tree roots to absorb water and nutrients from the soil. The tree reciprocates by providing the fungi with carbohydrates produced through photosynthesis.

Lichens form as the result of symbiotic relationships between fungi and bacteria or algae. The lichen, Flavoparmelia caperata, is named after the dominant fungal partner in its relationship with a green alga. The alga benefits the fungal partner by producing organic carbon compounds through photosynthesis. As a result of this symbiosis, lichens also have a remarkable ability to remain dessicated for a prolonged period. Misting my collection of lichen with water very quickly transformed the dry pale grey foliose structures into beautiful bright green glossy globes, as they appear when naturally moistened by rain. The Parmotrema hypotropum was particularly captivating, revealing its bright coral pink underside.

With my final composition, I wanted to depict both fantasy and reality, the abundant and the unique, the beautiful and the overlooked. By combining ink and watercolor, although highly challenging to execute, I was able to capture the characteristic details of this miniscule world. Before I had even discovered the theme of the NYBG-wide event, “Wonderland: Curious Nature,” I had become Alice, immersed in a fantastical world. Revisiting Lewis Carroll’s words, the following struck me as apt to describe this painting:

“Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't. And contrariwise, what it is, it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?”

Next Story

Back to List

Read more about this artist's work: 26th Annual