Botanica de Materia Medica, Plants and Healing

Botanica de Materia Medica is about plants used in healing and medicine. It is an exhibition showcasing the artwork by the best botanical artists in Australia. For this 2023 exhibition, in addition to showcasing our celebrated ‘traditional’ botanic art, we will be including unique perspectives from artists in other genres using other mediums.

Botanic Art began with the scientific illustration of medicinal and culinary plants. Western style Botanical Art evolved with the great botanical expeditions of the 17th and 18th centuries. There is a rich history of the use of plant life in healing and medicine in cultures, including Aboriginal bush medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and Indian Ayurvedic medicine. This exhibition encourages you to explore the relationship between art and medicine with works depicting plants used in the medical field in innovative ways.