This is my first botanical artwork. For me, Paphiopedilum is one of the few genus in the vast Orchidaceae family that I admire. Paphiopedilum agusii Cavestro is particularly fascinating to me, not only because this plant is endemic and its habitat is very limited to the mountains of Purworejo, Central Java, but also because it was relatively recently discovered and described. It’s quite extraordinary, considering this discovery came from the island of Java.

P. agusii and all other Paphiopedilum species are listed under Appendix 1 status. Nevertheless, the hunting and trading of these plants are still quite rampant. Sadly, they are often sold in the market at very low prices, making them seem undervalued. This is also the reason why I felt compelled to immortalize P. agusii in a botanical artwork, while hoping that awareness to protect this endangered plant continues to grow among the public.