Botanical art in full bloom at exhibition
Space Studio and Gallery’s new exhibition, For the Love of Botanical, features local and national artists and is a collaboration with the Botanical Art Society of New Zealand.
The gallery will open its doors especially for Worldwide Day of Botanical Art today.
Gallery owner Sarah Williams said the opening last week had attracted a full house and there seemed to be “a lot of genuine interest” in the works.
“There are 36 art works in total, and around 24 individual artists,” Williams said.
“We did an open call out for artists, and that brought in art forms like embroidery and sculpture.
“A botanicalthemed video piece by Andrea Gardner and Britt Bunkley will be showing in the event area of the gallery as well, which is actually the first time that part of Space has been used for an exhibition.”
Botanical Art Society of New Zealand representative Sandra Morris, who is exhibiting some of her own works at Space, said the exhibition was a “follow on” from a global botanical art exhibition in 2018.
“America then said they were going to do a regular thing, but with Covid-19 and everything, it just hasn’t happened.
“We thought we’d get the ball rolling again right here.
“For this exhibition we opened it up to include both 2D and 3D works, just to broaden the dimensions of what can be done, and to show what’s out there.”
Botanical art had enjoyed a resurgence around the world in recent years, Morris said.
“Way back in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries it was male-dominated, and then there was one female — Sibylla Merian — who became highly regarded by scientists for the accuracy of her work.
“It’s just grown from there, and nowadays it is dominated by females.
“There are some really good male artists still working in the botanical area though.”
Water colours, drawings, oils, and prints feature in the exhibition, along with a Pohutukawa sculpture made of recycled copper wire and sheets by Tauranga-based artist Stephanie Brebner.
Wellington’s Susan Worthington, who Morris said was one of New Zealand’s top botanical artists, was also featured in the exhibition.
“It’s pretty neat that she agreed to show here with us.
“There’s everything from traditional representations through to jade jewellery.
“The exhibition is something you can take your time over, and contemplate.”
We did an open call out for artists, and that brought in art forms like embroidery and sculpture.
— Gallery owner
Sarah Williams
● For the Love of Botanical runs until May 29 at Space Studio and Gallery, 18 St Hill St. The gallery will be open today from 10am to 2pm.