Exhibition: Orchids festival 2023

Back bigger and better than ever for 2023, Kew Gardens’ much-loved Orchid festival returns to the Princess of Wales Conservatory.

Taking inspiration from the beauty and biodiversity of Cameroon, Orchids 2023 is a vibrant celebration of colour to brighten up the winter months.

It is the first time Kew’s Orchid festival will celebrate an African nation. Encompassing a series of stunning horticultural displays and living sculptures, the festival takes places across the ten different climatic zones which make up Kew’s state-of-the-art Princess of Wales Conservatory, replicating a series of fascinating global ecosystems under one roof.

Orchids 2023 will highlight the varied landscapes and native wildlife of Cameroon, with larger-than-life sculptures hand-crafted by a team of expert horticulturists from real plants and an amazing array of colourful orchids. Visitors can encounter towering giraffe sculptures and a troop of gorillas, alongside magnificent roaring lions and wallowing hippo arrangements, highlighting the incredible biodiversity and awe-inspiring wildlife of this West African nation.

As part of the festival, art critic and historian Christine Eyene will curate a photography exhibition from the Bikoka Art Project, a new independent initiative dedicated to providing artistic and professional opportunities to the next generation of creatives in Lolodorf, Cameroon. Spanning the South End of the Princess of Wales Conservatory, capturing everyday scenes and spectacular landscapes from Lolodorf and beyond.