Slipper O is part of Noor Mahnun Anum’s ongoing Orchid series, reflecting her sustained interest in botanical studies and the visual dialogue between natural forms and structured design. Positioned within a series of diptychs, the work juxtaposes meticulous orchid renderings with precise geometric patterns, embodying a balance between the organic and the mathematical. This approach stems from a pivotal curatorial intervention during her 2017 exhibition Disco Lombok Still Life at The Edge Galerie, where her geometric abstractions were paired with still life paintings. That fusion has since evolved into a defining aspect of her practice, merging observation with abstraction in thoughtful, layered compositions.

Slipper O explores duality and discipline by placing the delicate, organic forms of the orchid in dialogue with precise, modular geometric patterns. Through complementary color schemes and contrasting structures, the diptych creates a visual conversation that reflects both the meditative and methodical aspects of Anum’s practice. These hand-rendered permutations evoke themes of perseverance and precision, highlighting the labor behind visual harmony. The work also gestures toward trompe l’oeil, inviting viewers to reflect on the constructed nature of perception, and how botanical life and geometric form can coexist within the illusionistic space of painting—where structure, light, and reality are always partly imagined.