Paloma Kop

The Life Cycle of Artianian Flowers, 2024

Spread of the first three cards

The Life Cycle of Aritanian Flowers is a deck of 16 printed cards. I created an edition of 20 decks as one of the Mystery Objects for Zine Club. The cards were digitally printed on both sides, then cut down by hand.

The idea behind this project was to create a set of flashcards to aid in studying the life cycle of a fictional species of plant that grows in the non-existent land of Aritana Occ, which is inhabited by fractal beings. Each illustration is based on a still frame of video feedback, recorded by pointing a camera at a television screen displaying its own output.

I currently don't plan to print another edition of these cards, so I am making a printable PDF file available for anyone who wishes to print their own deck for personal use:

Steps to create your own deck

  1. Download the Printable PDF file (6.2 MB)

  2. Get 4 sheets of cardstock in a light color of your choice

  3. Print the PDF with the "double-sided" option switched ON. (Note: if your printer doesn't have this feature, print odd pages first, then turn them over and print even pages)

  4. Cut out the cards using the crop marks as a guide

  5. Optional: use a round corner punch on all four corners of each card

1. Spore 2. Germination 3. Branching 4. Labyrescence 5. Inflorescence 6. Pollination 7. Dispersal 8. Encapsulation 9. Mandalation 10. Rhizomorph 11. Zigguration 12. Gymnosperm 13. Cyclophorescence 14. Fruiting 15. Dessication 16. Spore Animated GIF of all cards