Botaniko, Esperanto for botanical, comprises a small group of botanical artists living in and around Hobart, Tasmania. Some members of Botaniko have been, at one time or another, students of two of Australia’s leading botanical artists, Lauren Black (Tasmania) and Jenny Phillips (Victoria). Botaniko was formed in 2014.
The aim of the group is to foster the enjoyment of botanical art mainly through the medium of graphite drawing, colour pencils and/or watercolour; on specimens of botanical significance within Tasmania, culminating in an exhibition; and to continue developing skills through workshops with external artists. The members meet on a weekly basis from February to early December, working on a variety of individual and/or joint projects.
Since its inception members of the group have participated in a number of projects, including:
2024: The project this year has been to focus on the gardens of historic Battery Point (Hobart), giving a glimpse of what was growing in the past and what is found today.
2023: The Botaniko project was to depict some of the plants in the regenerated landscape of what was once the world’s largest woodchip mill – Gunn’s Triabunna Woodchip Mill – now known as the Spring Bay Mill at Freestone Point, Triabunna (Tasmania).
The Spring Bay Mill has been transformed into a world class venue and is committed to people, community and cultures. The Landscape has been replanted with more than 25,000 endemic plants including many rare and threatened species.
Collectively, this artwork showcased many aspects of the horticultural excellence created on this site.
2021/22: Botaniko was honoured to be granted access to the magnificent gardens of Government House, Hobart, to paint and document some of the plants of significance from the earliest garden development, commemorative plantings by distinguished visitors and former Governors through to the more contemporary plantings.
2021: Botaniko member completed their major project for 2021, recognising the work of plant collectors Ken Gillanders OAM and his late wife Lesley who collected from countries once part of the ancient continent of Gondwanaland. Many of the plants collected by Ken and Lesley are growing at their former home, Woodbank Gardens at Longley. The exhibition was first displayed at the Morris Miller Library, University of Tasmania (UTas), and subsequently at Kettering Chamber Music concert on Sunday, May 8. It then moved to the Art Lounge at the West Winds Community Centre, Woodbridge from May 23 to June 6.
During 2020 members worked with the Tasmanian Herbarium and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) to paint a selection of native and introduced plants found growing on the Wind Song property, on the Tasmanian East Coast, part of which has recently been returned to the Traditional Owners by the Teniswood family. The exhibition was displayed at the Morris Miller Libray (UTas), the Kettering Community Hall, West Winds Community Centre, Woodbridge, and the Kingston Library (Tasmania).
2019-2020: After accompanying botanists from the Tasmanian Herbarium during 2017, and with return trips in 2018-2019, members of Botaniko selected and painted some 40 plants, part of the Herbarium’s audit at Wind Song. The resulting works were exhibited in the Salon Gallery (Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery), during the summer of 2020-2021, then travelled to a number of venues on the East Coast and Southern parts of Tasmania.
2018: A number of Botaniko members returned to the Narryna Heritage Museum to document and paint plants listed in the journal of Frederick Mackie, while sojourning in Tasmania during 1852-54. The resulting art works were exhibited at the Narryna in 2019-20, then travelled to several venues throughout 2021, including Swansea, being a popular location at the time for Frederick Mackie, along with George Washington Walker and James Backhouse.
2017: Most Botaniko members worked on a special project in association with the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, to commemorate the Garden’s bicentenary in 2018.
2016: A return to the Port Arthur Historic Site by invitation, to continue the journey: Port Arthur – An Exotic Garden: Unlocking the Botanical Journey Part 2. Plants of medicinal, culinary, and industrial significance used by the early settlers of the site in 1800’s.
2015: Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG): Reverend Robert Knopwood’s kitchen garden, depicting plants grown between 1804-1824, in the garden located on the land later occupied by Narryna in Battery Point, Hobart.
Since its inception members of the group have participated in a number of projects, including:
2014: Port Arthur Historic site: An Exotic Garden – Port Arthur: Unlocking the botanical journey, depicting plants transported to the Port Arthur penal settlement, along with convicts, a commandant, officers and soldiers.
.