Exhibition: Watercolour paintings of unique and exquisite orchids by Hemlata Pradhan

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Friday, 11 March 2011 22:55

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CELEBRATING SPRING ORCHID SEASON!
 
NEW EXHIBITION ANNOUNCEMENT AND INVITATION
 

WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS OF UNIQUE AND EXQUISITE ORCHIDS and other plants of the Himalayas

by HEMLATA PRADHAN

17 March - 1 May 2011
Opening Reception Thursday 17 March 5:30pm - 8:30pm

Botanical illustration is a genre that reflects the development of art and science for over 500 years. In the Renaissance there was an interest in naturalism and expeditions that left Europe in search for new lands led to new discoveries of plant species. In the 17th and 18th century, botanical art gained popularity in the west, especially England and Scotland where gardening became popular among aristocrats who began collecting and cataloguing exotic and native plants. Sadly, this painting genre has begun to fade in modern times.

This exhibition features watercolour paintings by India's foremost botanical painters - HEMLATA PRADHAN. A gifted child in the Pradhan family that has run orchid nursery for three generations in the hills of Kalimpong, Sikkim, Hemalta Pradhan graduated with a diploma in botanical illustrations from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, with scholarship from the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation, Canada, and a Master's Degree in Natural History Illustration from the Royal College of Art, London, with scholarship from the Association of Commonwealth Universities, London. It is rare in modern days to see such a talent in botanical illustrations: orchids and plants are alive in her paintings, which also are scientific records of vanishing species.

Amongst some large works of orchids in habitat, other paintings in the show include Bailey's Himalayan Blue Poppy, studies of Himalayan Cobra Lilies, and also a painting of Himalayan Blue Bamboo from the collection of her father Udai C. Pradhan, one of India's renowned botanists.
 
Pradhan's works have been exhibited at the British Museum and are in the collection of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England. The Kingdom of Bhutan also commissioned her for its orchid stamps.

Serindia Gallery is proud to present this special exhibition. Hemlata Pradhan's work not only enriches our knowledge of orchids and plants and its endangered habitats, but it also helps preserve an art form that is dying out in modern times.


Venue: (click for MAP)

Serindia Gallery
O.P. Garden
Soi Charoenkrung 36
Charoenkrung Road
Bangkok 10500
Thailand

Tel: 02 238 6410
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