It has been nearly two weeks since Claire Peverelli and Stratton Hatfield’s exhibit opened at The Loren, and interest has not waned. The fascination could be because the artists have the unusual tie of being husband and wife, but more likely it is because theirs is an interesting take on “the intersections of Bermuda’s natural and cultural identity”.

Flora in Flux: Shaping Identity features sculptures of plant life. Although flora and horticulture have been a constant focus of their work, the idea to use them to explore the “theme of identity and what that represents in terms of Bermuda” is a new effort for the artists.

Interesting to them was the impact imported plants have had on the island.

“We're playing on the themes of endemic, native and invasive, and looking at that through the lens of population and demographics and mindsets, and how that plays a role in shaping Bermuda both socially and environmentally,” Mr Hatfield said.

Flora in Flux is a collaboration between Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art and Penny Aaron, curator of The Loren Hotels Art Collection, planned to coincide with the Bermuda Tourism Authority’s Art Month celebrations.

Ms Peverelli draws on her skills as “a trained art psychotherapist” and “outdoor educator” while creating; Mr Hatfield uses his art to highlight social and environmental issues to inspire change.

As a creative partnership, they believe it works.

“She's coming at it from the angle of, what is the meaning? What are the themes? What is the intention behind the work? It’s been nice to have that angle in it,” Mr Hatfield said.

“She has that [attention to] detail whereas I'm more about how's it made? What is the process to make it?

“It’s nice to have that sort of support and collaboration. It’s definitely been helpful in terms of making it more detailed and beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.”

The hope is that Flora in Flux provokes “a deeper reflection on how human choice shapes the past, present and future of Bermuda as is reflected in the landscape”.

The sculptures are meant to underscore the “delicate balance” of maintaining cultural identity and adapting to new social realities.

“By capturing and fossilising the unique geometry of these plants, the artists take a snapshot of the landscape's evolution, examining the tension between preservation and disruption,” the couple’s artist statement reads.

“The endemic and native plants, long adapted to the island’s unique environment, represent the resilience of the Bermudian population, while the introduced and invasive species symbolise the influence of new, external forces some which coexist with the environment and others that may erode the existence of other plant species.”

Ms Peverelli and Mr Hatfield hope that the work encourages people to consider how natural and social landscapes have influenced each other, “encouraging a dialogue on the need for connection, balance and conscious stewardship in both the natural and cultural spheres”.

Complementary text walks viewers through the exhibit, with individual pieces labelled according to the overarching theme of “shifting demographics”.

“For example, the Bermuda palmetto piece is called Resilience, whereas some of the banana leaves are represented as Prosperity, Persistence … and then we did a triptych called Sea Change, a kind of representation of the shifting dynamics from past, present, future in Bermuda,” Mr Hatfield said.

“The Bermuda palmetto endemic plant has been here before people set foot whereas Bermuda loquats, they are an introduced species but they now are part of Bermuda's identity when you think about kids growing up here and wanting to go around picking loquats.

“Bay grapes, for example, are a plant that's commonly known in Bermuda, but they were introduced as well.

“So really thinking about how, once upon a time all of us came from somewhere else ― whether it was through shipwreck or it was through slavery, whether we were born here to expat parents or whether we just came here on vacation, decided to stick around because we met someone on Front Street. It’s interesting using plants as a metaphor to represent that.”

In talking with Myles Darrell, the head of natural heritage at the Bermuda National Trust, Mr Hatfield learnt that in the “1600s, 1700s and even 1800s, Bermuda was very monochromatic”.

“The landscape was all Bermuda palmettos, cedars, olivewoods. There wasn’t this bright, tropical, vibrant Bermuda that we're used to today, with big poinciana trees and lots of different types of palm trees everywhere.”

It wasn’t until sometime in the 1900s, when people became interested in horticulture, that many of the plant species we are familiar with today became part of the landscape,” Mr Hatfield said.

Loquats are introduced plants that are now “all over the place”.

“The Surinam cherry is another one that people are familiar with. We haven't used that in our work, but that's an invasive plant species which takes over ecosystems and doesn't allow the endemic trees to really grow properly,” he added.

He and his wife designed and cast the concrete sculptures in three months.

“We really enjoy creating custom work, bespoke pieces for clients and I would say that this body of work is like an extension of those bespoke pieces, and it will continue to evolve,” Mr Hatfield said.

He and his wife were off island for the opening of the show, but intend to host a talk in “a more intimate setting” on Thursday.

“We are going to explain more about the history of the work, the inspiration, the process, and some of the meaning behind this particular series,” the artist said.

“We're really fortunate to have the work not only displayed in commercial and residential settings in Bermuda, but it's also abroad now.

“We've had collectors buy it in London, New York and in Los Angeles and Miami. So it's cool to think that our work is now international.”

• Claire Peverelli and Stratton Hatfield will discuss Flora in Flux: Shaping Identity on Thursday in the Marée Lounge at The Loren Hotel starting at 6pm. To RSVP, visitmasterworksbermuda.org/flora-in-flux/. For more information: www.strativist.com/yart; @YART_sculptures on Instagram