National Library of South Africa hosts Karen Stewart's fine art masters exhibition

The National Library of South Africa will be hosting an exhibition of botanical paintings as well as a display of original 16th and 17th and 18th century books from February 7 to March 23, 2007.

The main body of work on display will be Karen Stewart's fine art masters exhibition entitled "Opening the Curiosity Box". The work, in the form of an artist's book, takes a critical look at the curiosity collections of the 16th and 17th century, focusing on the botanical illustrations of the European pioneer plant collectors in South Africa during this period, who collected plants `in God's name' for the `betterment of science'.

Stewart's work features illustrations of indigenous plants which are woven in with local stories/legends which up to now have been poorly documented, if at all. Her aim is to reintroduce local knowledge of our indigenous flora that has long been excluded from scientific study to open up debate around these issues.

The National Library has agreed to allow a number of rare botanical and anthropological books from the 16th and 17th century to go on display to complement Stewart's work.

Exhibition venue: The Red Space, National Library of South Africa (behind St George's Cathedral).
Date: February 7 to March 23
Times: Mon - Fri 9am - to 5pm except Wednesdays 10am - 5pm
Entrance free to the public.