The Insights of Işık Plants have effectively transported botanical artist, Işık Güner, from her home in Turkey to Edinburgh, Chile, Kathmandu and China. Immersed in a whirlwind of art engagements, research, publications, collections, preparatory sketches, formal painting, exhibitions, education workshops, awareness raising and awards, there is an ever-increasing demand for her stunning work. Three of Işık’s many projects are here highlighted, ranging from the 2007 project start towards the 2015 publication of Plants from the Woods and the Forest of the Chile to the 2016 ‘The Beauty of Orchids’ art exhibition and the 2015-2016 Nepal Project, which entailed workshops in Kathmandu and is culminating in an exhibition. During that time, Işık, has also taken out several high ranking awards.
Plants from the Woods and the Forest of the Chile, 2015 A single volume publication of high quality botanical art, presenting the beauty and diversity of Chilean forests where the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Scotland has been engaged in 25 years of research, conversation and initiatives. Containing around 80 unique commissioned water-colour paintings, approximately half are illustrations by Işık, the other artists being Gülnur Ekşi and Hülya Korkmaz. This publication brought Güner, whose surname ironically bears a striking resemblance to the latin name of Gunnera tinctoria or Giant Rhubarb, into full immersion with the plant in order to provide a detailed depiction for the publication. As part of preparations, she travelled to Southern and Central Chile for two months to paint up to 12 different species, while there Işık also taught botanical art students
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The Botanical Issue
Above: Işık Güner, in her new mountain studio in the Northeast of Turkey, where the light is perfect for botanical illustration. Photograph courtesy of the artist. Right: Işık collecting the giant rhubarb Gunnera tinctoria leaf in 2010.
in Puerto Varas and another group in Santiago at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. The 2016 project, ‘The Beauty of the Orchids’ reveals how wild orchids have become a victim of their own beauty; with their species in decline, Işık is involved in building an art exhibition to encourage awareness about the negative impact of overcollecting wild orchids for ornamental use. As part of the Two Dragons initiative, it linked researchers and students between the botanic gardens in the United Kingdom and China.
References: http://www.isikguner.com/eng/chilean_plants http://chileanplants.rbge.org.uk/en/ http://chileanplants.rbge.org.uk/en/ http://dragons-garden.bangor.ac.uk/blog/orchid-art-exhibition-in-xtbg-21519 http://www.isikguner.com/eng/latest_news.html