To coincide with the 250th Anniversary of Cook’s first voyage to the Pacific, Solander Gallery and project partner Embassy of Sweden in Canberra will open Paradise Lost, a group exhibition to commemorate the contribution naturalist Daniel Solander made to New Zealand’s history.
The ten artists selected each bring a unique vision to this historical event and collectively put flesh to many of Daniel Solander’s facets, not least of which are his scientific credentials in botany, his cross-cultural awareness and his enthusiasm for the preservation of the unique species of the natural world.
Participating artists are, John Pusateri (Auckland), Alexis Neal (Auckland) Dagmar Dyck (Auckland), John McLean (New Plymouth), Tabatha Forbes (New Plymouth), Michel Tuffery (Wellington), Sharnae Beardsley (Christchurch), Jo Ogier (Christchurch), Lynn Taylor (Dunedin) and Jenna Packer (Dunedin).
Scientist Joseph Banks, employed Daniel Solander, a Swedish botanist and together they collected hundreds of plant species as the Endeavour circumnavigated New Zealand 1769.
As paper was in short supply in 1760’s England, Banks and Solander bought printers proof of Milton’s book Paradise Lost and it was pages from this work that were used to press and dry the first European collections of New Zealand plants.
A 35 page colour catalogue Paradise Lost – Daniel Solander’s Legacy is also available online or from Solander Gallery.
Touring Dates:
Russell Museum | Te Whare Taonga o Kororareka | 5 April – 18 May 2019
Dargaville Museum | Te Whare Taonga o Tunatahi | 2 June – 7 July 2019
Reyburn House Art Gallery, Whangarei | 16 July – 18 August 2019
Auckland Botanic Gardens, Manurewa | 2 September – 11 October 2019
The University of Auckland | Old Government House |17 October – 15 November 2019
Puke Ariki | New Plymouth | 25 November – 9 February 2020
Millennium Public Art Gallery, Blenheim | 14 March – 27 June 2020
Australian National Botanic Gardens | Canberra | 2 September – 23 September 2020
Australian National Maritime Museum | Sydney | September – early Feb 2021
Invite Image: Jenna Packer What is this Tree of Knowledge – Do We Not Also Have Trees? acrylic on board, 610 mm x 915 mm
