Journey to the Heart of Plants

Claudia Navas

25 octobre, 2024

The exhibition Herbarium Seen & Dreamed aims to explore how scientists, philosophers, writers, artists, and filmmakers have collected and represented plants, both for scientific studies and practical use, creating herbariums that oscillate between the scientific and the poetic.

Through a multidisciplinary approach, the exhibition showcases the exploratory work of various botanists and artists.

Outside, in the Alpendre do Celeiro and Lagar, the work of Mario Alberto Pedraza is displayed, who documented Colombian orchids based on the collections of Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) and Aimé Bonpland (1773-1858), created in the early 19th century. In the contemplative space of the Celeiro, visitors are invited to discover the impressive Grand Herbier d'Ombres by Lourdes Castro (1930-2022), presented in the installation Je/Eux d'Ombres by artist Claudia Isabel Navas. In this room, Philippe Durand surprises with Boscs, cyanotypes showcasing various species from the contemporary Mediterranean flora of France. This reflective journey is further enhanced by a corridor lined with yellow Andean flowers, photographed by Ramón Laserna, and the sounds of excerpts from the eight Lettres de Botanique by Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

In the Lagar, a dedicated space for the exhibition addresses the early techniques of plant representation, from manual collection during 18th-century botanical expeditions to plant prints, hand drawings, and early photographs. Here, illustrations from the Real Expedición Botánica (1783-1816), led by José Celestino Mutis (1732-1808), are presented, inspiring Ramón Laserna's reflections on the fragility of the natural world. His work follows in the footsteps of Mutis, who welcomed Humboldt and Bonpland in Santa Fé de Bogotá in 1801. This space also features a video installation on Impressions de Plantes, a herbarium containing plants collected in the Americas by these historical figures.

The exhibition also includes the Botanical Photography Collection of the University of Coimbra, highlighting contributions from figures such as Júlio Augusto Henriques (1838-1928). Additionally, the unique watercolors of Portuguese orchids by Ursula Beau (1906-1984) celebrate Portuguese biodiversity.

The exhibition is organized by the Fundação de Serralves – Parque de Serralves, under the direction of Claudia Isabel Navas.

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