Climatic extreme plant survivors feature in Replant art exhibition

While global warming and climate change dominate the news, plants that prosper through extreme climate conditions will feature at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens in ‘Replant – a new generation of botanical art’.

Acting Executive Director, Botanic Gardens Trust, Bernard Carlon said the exhibition showcases exquisite botanical prints of plants that survive through monsoonal rains, dry weather and wild fires.

“Visitors to the Red Box Gallery at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens (5^th July to 15^th August) will be enthralled by the prints produced by six different Australian artists,” Mr Carlon said.

“The prints were produced by the artists who visited the Top End of Australia, gathering at the Daly River, 230 kilometres southwest of Darwin to investigate the scientific, cultural and social aspects of Indigenous plant species. They worked on the project for two weeks alongside ethno botanist Glenn Wightman who provided them with an insight into the traditional knowledge of the custodians.

“Replant reflects the traditional role of women as gatherers of food and holders of knowledge, combined with the rise of printmaking as a significant medium for Indigenous artists,” he said.

The launch of the Replant exhibition at Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens coincides with NAIDOC Week celebrations that get underway nationwide from the 6^th to 13^th July.  

NAIDOC celebrations are held around Australia in July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. 

Mr Carlon said the Replant exhibition is another way we can celebrate the vibrance of Indigenous culture and the Indigenous contribution to modern Australia.

“Glenn Wightman, an ethno-botanist with 25 years experience in the Northern Territory provided the six Replant artists with an informative guide of protocols and knowledge systems, which interweave cultural and geographical boundaries,” he said.

“The first few days of the artists’ journey to producing their prints began with meetings in the bush with Traditional Owners. After that they produced drawings and prints at Merrepen Art centre. 

“Cultural stories, plant use and scientific knowledge were then distilled together on zinc plates in an acutely observed survey of flora and the Top End environment,” Mr Carlon said.

Replant artists: 
Marita Sambono – well known for her paintings on canvas and silk and experienced printmaker. 
Winsome Jobling – A Darwin artist.   Experimented with plant material in papermaking and art.
Irene Mungatopi – from Melville Island applied her finely tuned knowledge of the bush. 
Deborah Wurrkidj – Used bush fruit food as her subject from her traditional country in Arnhem Land. 
Judy Watson – drew broadly upon her ancestral connection with Waanyi country in northern Queensland
Fiona Hall – Australian flora aligned with the scientific and Aboriginal botanical systems and ecosystems

The ‘Replant – a new generation of botanical art’ exhibition is a Nomad Art Productions and Artback NT: Arts Development and Touring exhibition:
 
When: Saturday 5^th July to Friday, 15^th August. 10am until 4pm. Open the weekend of 5 & 6 July, then weekdays only. 
Where: Red Box Gallery, National Herbarium of NSW, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney (entry via Reception). 
Cost: Free entry. 
Enquiries: (02) 9231 8111

Tags: art exhibition