Ellas Ilustran Botánica — Women Illustrate Botany Spain
Art, Science and Gender
The exhibition presents the work of women botanical scientific illustrators from the seventeenth century to the present day, uncovering the relationships between art, science and gender. More than 200 reproductions of botanical works in a variety of formats — drawings, engravings, photographs, sculptures, paintings and books — highlight women's contributions to both the scientific and artistic spheres.
The exhibition opens with a selection of key figures in the history of scientific illustration, including Anna Maria Variana, Maria Sibylla Merian, Alida Withoos, Elizabeth Blackwell and Sarah Ann Drake. This first section is characterised by the use of classical techniques such as drawing, engraving and painting, employed to study and document specimens in an objective manner. By contrast, later artists such as Marianne North and Margaret Mee also contextualise flora within their natural ecosystems.
The second part of the exhibition explores the incorporation of technology: the use of photography in the work of Anna Atkins and Cecilia Glaisher, the microscope in that of Claudia Fährenkempe, and X-ray imaging in that of Dornith Doherty.
Ellas Ilustran Botánica tells the story of how science can be art and art can be science, through botanical scientific images created by more than forty women. The exhibition continues with the virtuosity of currently active artists such as Marta Chirino, Shevaun Doherty and Deborah Lambkin, who collaborate with botanic gardens and other scientific institutions. Finally, younger artists including Aina Bestard, Emilie Vast and Tatiana Boyko introduce digital technologies, bringing botany to a wider audience.
Press Coverage
Real Jardín Botánico http://www.rjb.csic.es/jardinbotanico/jardin/contenido.php?Pag=236&tipo=noticia&cod=8323
Universidad Complutense de Madrid https://webs.ucm.es/BUCM/blogs/Foliocomplutense/14205.php
NueveCuatroUno https://nuevecuatrouno.com/2022/02/12/planes-logrono-casa-ciencias-exposicion-ilustradoras-cientificas/
El Balcón de Mateo https://www.elbalcondemateo.es/ellas-ilustran-botanica-casa-de-las-ciencias/
SBA https://www.soc-botanical-artists.org/ellas-ilustran-botanica/
Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcQdpMIjGXQ
Press Coverage — International Day of Women and Girls in Science
La Rioja https://www.larioja.com/la-rioja/inventan-20220212202601-nt.html
TVR https://www.tvr.es/exposiciones-talleres-jornadas-20220203193421-nt.html
