Overview

In 1829, London physician Dr Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward conducted a simple experiment when he sealed a plant inside a glass container to see if it would survive. The experiment's success helped change the way plants were transported across the world, transforming gardens, ecosystems and lives in the process. This book traces that story by pairing striking contemporary images of cased plants in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom with essays about the deeper implications of plant transfer. It considers not only the scientific and colonial ambitions that drove botanical exchange, but also its consequences: ecological disruption, the spread of invasive species, and the marginalisation of Indigenous knowledge systems. Case Studies also gives space to other voices - those speaking to matauranga Maori, to tino rangatiratanga over native species, and to the ongoing work of conservation and reclamation. It is not only a record of historical movement, but also a reminder of the values and choices that continue to shape the land beneath our feet.

Full Product Details

9781991016959

Table of Contents

Reviews

‘The mix of image and text gives the book its breadth, its inquisitiveness and its instant and lasting appeal. It is gorgeously produced and will be a handsome and memorable gift’ — Don Abbott, Art New Zealand ‘On the surface Case Studies may appear as the visually captivating and compelling documentation of an art project, a collaboration between multi-talented botanical artist Felicity Jones and photographer Mark Smith, however, deeper delving reveals the book is also a labyrinthine journey through space and time’ — Alex Eagles-Tully, Kete Books  ‘Every one of the photos is a work of art in itself . . . There’s layer upon layer of interest and meaning. I couldn’t rate it highly enough and I’m so proud that they’ve published this in New Zealand’ — Lynda Hallinan, RNZ

Author Information

Mark Smith has been making photographs since the late 1970s. His work has appeared in many national and international publications, as well as galleries. Some of his favourite projects have been the Cake Poster Collective; the book Once Removed (on tour with Neil Finn); Person, Place and Animal, a solo show at Artis Gallery, Auckland; Green Man with Deborah Smith and John Reynolds at the Black Barn Gallery, Havelock North; and the book HomeGround with Simon Wilson about the Auckland City Mission’s city residence. Felicity Jones has led a wide-ranging creative life as a musician, gardener and botanical artist. She came to her work as a floral design from an organic gardening background and is a strong advocate for sustainability, challenging the many environmentally damaging aspects of traditional floristry. In 2017 she instigated a collaborative project with Mark Smith which resulted in four exhibitions in New Zealand and also at the Pingyao International Photography Festival in Jinzhong, China.

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