Ambassador calls on Russell Museum
Sweden’s ambassador to New Zealand has paid a visit to Russell Museum ahead of an exhibition dedicated to a Swedish botanist who helped shape the study of this country’s natural history.
Paradise Lost: Daniel Solander’s Legacy, billed as one of the most prestigious exhibitions the museum has hosted, sponsored by the Swedish Embassy and opening on April 6, will pay tribute to botanist Daniel Solander (1733-1782), one of the scientists on board Captain Cook’s Endeavour when it arrived in the Bay of Islands 250 years ago.
Ten artists were invited to flesh out Solander’s character, attributes and talents, such as his scientific credentials, his cross-cultural awareness and his enthusiasm for the preservation of the natural world. They include Michael Tuffery, Jenna Packer, John Pusateri and Alexis Neal.
Ambassador Pa¨r Ahlberger, who visited the museum while he was in Northland for Waitangi Day festivities, was particularly taken with Vanessa Wairata Edwards’ contribution to the current display, Tuia Toi Whakaata , by the Ma¯ori Printmakers’ Collective, comprising a series of prints of New Zealand flora and fauna with pest species superimposed. Also called Paradise Lost, it acknowledges Solander by using a Solander Box as a container for the prints.
While Edwards’ Solander Box refers to the destruction of native species by introduced predators, Solander invented the original box to preserve the plants he collected in New Zealand in 1769. Such boxes are still used by scientists and museums today.
The reference to Milton’s famous epic poem, Paradise Lost, arises from Solander’s tearing pages from a proof copy of the book to press the leaves and flowers he found.
The ambassador was so impressed by the artwork he asked if it could be included in the Daniel Solander Legacy exhibition at the Solander Gallery in Wellington. The display will travel to Russell before going on tour around the country, then to Australia and Sweden.
While in Russell Ambassador Ahlberger was taken on a tour of the Bay by ex-pat Swedes Katarina and Stefan Jung and their son Vidar, who arrived from Stockholm two years ago and now run a fishing tackle shop and charter boat business.
Museum curator Kate Martin was also on board to show the ambassador the places Solander visited 250 years ago.