Front Gallery, 15th February–13th March 2011

“The whole secret of the study of nature lies in learning how to use one’s eye.”
Amandine Aurore Lucies, nouvelles Lettres d’un Voyageur, 1869, s.l. & s.p.


This annual exhibition showcases recent works by members of The Botanical Art Society of New Zealand, established in 2004. The Society’s aim is to ‘foster and promote botanical art and to stimulate interest in plants, conservation, horticulture and the natural environment.’

Botanical Art often acts as the interface between art and science where it not only seeks to provide an aesthetic experience for the viewer but also to inform, educate and promote awareness of the botanical subject being portrayed.

This often requires the artist to closely observe and record a specimen over a full year cycle then seamlessly combine these aspects such as buds, flowers and fruits to provide a clear portrayal of the specimen for identification. Other aspects to aid with identification of the plant may also be shown such as the reproductive organs of the flowers, the form of the leaves - front and back surface texture, veins and leaf margins. The correct positioning of the leaves, the buds and flowers on the stem, and the bark texture are all also noted and lovingly recorded by the artist.

We hope you enjoy the exhibition as much as we have producing these works.

Members of the Botanical Art Society of New Zealand meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month 10.00 - 2.00pm. Meetings are at The Lodge, Mona Vale where tutoring and workshops are held during the year.