"I am growing flowers that are not grown anywhere else" the fantastical botanica of an Art Brut genius

The work of Czech painter, draftsman and pastel artist Anna Zem nkov (1908-86) defies easy definition and categorization. As a self-taught artist, Zem nkov tends to be described as Art Brut, but her Art Brut is of a mysterious and magical strain. Her work gives the viewer the impression of entering a herbarium of fantastical extraterrestrial plants or a unique, imaginary world, always created by the artist using newly discovered and often surprising techniques.

This extraordinary new publication presents a representative selection of Zem nkov 's drawings, collages, objects and assemblages, accompanied by texts written by experts and researchers including Roger Cardinal, Eva Kot tkov , Terezie Zem nkov , Manuel Anceau, Pascale Jeanneret and Bruno Decharme. These are not staid scholarly essays; each contributor tries in their own way to understand the inherent mystery of Zem nkov 's art. Readers are invited to join them on a journey through Zem nkov 's visionary work.