BOTANICAL ART BIENNALE IS OPEN

Kirstenbosch Botanical Art Biennale

Dates: 30 August to 15 September
Time: 09:00 to 18:00
Venue: Old Mutual Conference Centre, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden
Free entry to Botanical Art Exhibition
Website: http://www.sanbi.org/events/kirstenbosch-botanical-art-biennale-2013

Celebrating “100 blooming years” Kirstenbosch and the Botanical Society of South Africa are enjoying a momentous landmark year and the Botanical Art Biennale from August 30 to September 15 will, without doubt, be one of the high points of the year. Sponsored by Old Mutual, this Centenary event showcases top South African botanical artists as well as artists from different parts of the globe.

Focusing on medicinal and traditional use plants of southern Africa, (including plants used for food, shelter, decoration, adornment, health, devotional rituals and rites of passage) the quality of entries this year have surpassed all expectations. The symbiotic relationship between the plant and animal kingdoms and the plethora of uses of plants, highlight the vigilance required if the sustainability and long-term harvesting potential of these limited resources is to be ensured.

The 2013 exhibition is the seventh since its inception in 2000 and the extraordinary artistic challenges that confront artists in this genre are apparent in the intricate detail presented in the artworks.

From fine monochrome pencil drawings to delicate watercolour, the media used by the artists range from copper etchings and scraperboard through to pastel, pen and ink.  Whatever the medium used, the ability of the artist to bring these plants to life in their truest form is remarkable. Whilst the paintings are complex the viewer is drawn to the simple beauty of the plants and to the fact that these same plants have inspired many generations of botanical artists to record with extraordinary accuracy the wealth of the southern African flora.

International artists Kath Baker and Leigh-Ann Gale (UK,) Suzana Souza (Brazil)  and Suellen Perold (USA) add interest to the line up of exhibitors. Well known artists such as Eric Judd, Solly Gutman, Carol Reddick and Gillian Condy are joined by first time exhibitor Ann Kerr, while visitors will delight in the fine renditions from Jenny Hyde- Johnson, Jeanette Loedolff, Wilna Eloff and Lisa Strachen. Many more feature in the more than 50 artist line-up.

An additional highlight is the work of Cape based Margaret de Villiers, who recently won a gold medal and best on show at the annual Royal Horticultural Society’s Botanical Art show in London.

This year’s Biennale has a historic component given that 2013 is Kirstenbosch’s centenary year. A slide show evoking the history of botanical art in South Africa has been put together for the occasion by Mary van Blommenstein of the Irma Stern museum, John Rourke, who was head of the Compton Herbarium prior to his retirement and the author of many books and publications, and Nicki Westcott, the curator of the Biennale. The work of artists from the early and late Victorian years as well as other little known work will be shown. Various originals will also be exhibited which will be of tremendous interest to art lovers and plant enthusiasts.

A second slide show on medicinal and traditional use plants by Tony Dold and Michele Cocks from Grahamstown, both botanists who recently published a remarkable work called “Voice from the Forest”. Their Biennale presentation, based on the traditional practises and beliefs of the Xhosa speaking people of the Eastern Cape, will highlight the context in which knowledge about plants and their varied uses is passed down through the generations. It also deals with the very real threat to medicinal plants due to unsustainable harvesting methods.

Since Kirstenbosch has been a centre for the study and appreciation of plants since its inception, this international exhibition of botanical fine art is a fitting tribute during this Centenary year. It is the perfect site to showcase art that is intimately linked to the scientific work undertaken here.