LOOK Photo Biennial: Is this a Garden? and The Perfect Flower

When?

– 26th June – 31st August 2026

Where

– Open Eye Gallery Liverpool

The Exhibition

Yan Wang Preston’s The Perfect Flower was exhibited as part of Open Eye Gallery’s 2026 LOOK Photo Biennial.

Spanning a range of mediums including photography, projection and film, The Perfect Flower charts the development of hydrangeas in the UK. Starting from a reproduction of the oldest hydrangea specimen in Britain the project explores what a perfect flower is and the journey to get it. Developed through close observation of the RHS Hydrangea Paniculata trials, the work reflects on how flowers are classified, valued and perfected. The work also reflects on the cultural and historical implications embedded in horticulture, including colonial histories that shaped the introduction and commercialisation of plants.

“What is a perfect flower? How do we go about getting them? Why such an impulse?” – Yan Wang Preston.

The Perfect Flower was exhibited alongside Is This A Garden? curated by Gary Bratchford and Stuart Whipps, which explored gardens as a backdrop to everyday life.

Journey from the Wild. From The Perfect Flower series, 2025.

For more information on the exhibition and access to the venue, visit the Open Eye Gallery website here.