Nurturing Nature

Neera Joshi Pradhan combines scientific and aesthetic values in her botanical portraits

By BINITA PANDEY

Exotic orchids and various floras from the tropical to the Himalayan regions were on display recently at the solo exhibition by Neera Joshi Pradhan at the Park Gallery, Lazimpat. The exhibition, titled "Orchids and Jewels of Nature", combined both scientific and aesthetic values in understanding art and nature.

The unique exhibition on authentic botanical art in water colors was opened on May 30 and continued until June 14. The 30 paintings were equally divided into orchids and flora. These works included Arundina graminifolia, Cymbidium I and 11, Thunia Alba, Pahiopedilum Exul, Iris 1 and 11, Antheridium 1and11, Bahunia, Pyrus sp. and so on.

The paintings were priced between Rs. 8,000 and Rs.18,000. "Nature has its own gifts to human beings. The creation of its beauty is diverse, either from the desert to Himalayan regions, the splendid landscape and numerous creatures are created where nothing can expel the beauty of flowers; that's why I prefer to say without these jewels, imagination of nature is impossible," said artist Joshi Pradhan.

The art of botanical illustration, which began in the 15th century, reached a peak of achievement in the 19th century when artists like Pierre Joseph Redoute created some finest examples. The advances in scientific botany promoted interest in finding new species in this period. Artists and the plant collectors got together to record accurately treasured plant specimens.

By the 20th century, England, France, Germany, America and many other countries in the West witnessed a renewal of interest. Over the last 40 years, many botanical portraits have been produced with fitness and accuracy, interpreting things in a pleasing way.

After 10 years of dedication as an associate at Park Gallery, Joshi Pradhan turned into a hobby painter in water colors. Her passion for water color was inspired by her father late R.N. Joshi. As she is a botanist, her passion for flower was natural than she began painting in 1997. She exhibited and published "Flora from Kathmandu Valley" as her first show and very first time in Nepal 1999.

Later on, she went to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Florida for research and illustrated rare orchids around the world. Today the paintings are housed in the library. After she came back, she continued to paint native flowers and orchids. She illustrated children's coloring book for department of plant resources, published by IUCN Nepal.

Now she is presenting the combinations of scientific and aesthetic values of such flowers and orchids from tropical of Himalayan regions. The scientific values of some paintings like orchids are drawn in accuracy as well as in scales from the live plants from various places and fields. Passion for flowers was her love for nature. British Ambassador to Nepal Keith Bloomfield inaugurated the 15-day exhibition.