BOTANICALS ILLUSTRATED

“The botanical artist finds himself/herself at once and always in a dilemma is he/she a servant of science or art? There can, I think be no doubt that he/she must learn to serve both masters.”

- The Art of Botanical Illustration, Wilfrid Blunt

Botanicals Illustrated is an amalgamation of diverse interpretations of flora. This exhibition includes visual representations of plants and plant life, such as leaves, flowers, seeds, barks, roots, twigs and fruits. While some portrayals may have been connected to the science of botany (Company School lithographs), others intend to protect and document endangered plant species (Anuradha Sarin Khurana’s works). However, majority of the pieces here have been created purely due to the fascination with and adulation for the plant world and its limitless and beautiful creations.

Some botanical artists in the exhibition have also adopted botanical names or binomials to caption and title their works these two-part, scientific or Latin names are the standardised nomenclature for plants that are accepted by scientists no matter what languages they speak or where they are in the world.

The showcase includes works by Mahaveer Swami, Anuradha Sarin Khurana, Raju Swami, Manita Singh, Santoshi Shyam, Sahaya Sharma, Ishita Sachdeva and Company School artists (William Roxburgh, James Forbes, John Nugent Fitch, Joseph Paxton and others). We urge you to read and interpret these captivating and unique plant studies and portraits.

Curator: Sakhshi Mahajan

Assistant Curator: Ashlin Mathew