From Plant Press, Vol. 11, No. 3 from July 2008.
On the evening of May 9th, Photographer Jonathan Singer presented a gift of the first set of his work entitled Botanica Magnifica to the Department of Botany and the Smithsonian Institution Libraries. Botanica Magnifica consists of five volumes in a double elephant folio format, the same size and scope as the work produced by John James Audubon in his elegant Birds of America two hundred years ago. Each volume of Botanica Magnifica includes fifty photographs of scientifically identified species centered on the five themes of orchids, gingers, horticulture, plant form, and rare species. Together these five volumes encompass two hundred and fifty images, which comprise a distinctive representation of the world of plants. The inclusion of Botanica Magnifica in the Smithsonian Institution Libraries is a fitting addition to the collection of exceptional natural history volumes.
As stated in the temporary exhibit about Botanica Magnifica in the Constitution Avenue lobby to the Museum “Botanica Magnifica integrates art and science by dissolving the boundaries between our appreciation of Nature and our understanding of how Nature works. In his images photographer Jonathan Singer captures the essence of plant form, color, and texture thereby enhancing the viewer’s appreciation of the complexity of the botanical world.” In Singer’s own words “To see these photographic images is to transcend the medium and see the subject itself.”
Botanica Magnifica is the result of a close collaboration between photographer Singer and Curator of Botany John Kress. Singer first approached Kress in the fall of 2006 about his desire and intention of producing Botanica Magnifica. Singer had already been working with horticulturist Marc Hachadourian of the New York Botanical Garden, but wanted a tropical botanist as a collaborator as well. Many artists want their work to be housed at the Smithsonian so Kress was cautious when he first met Singer at an off-site local gallery. However, when he saw the first images, which were the very beginnings of the work, Kress knew that this was a project that would be worth the effort. The rest of the story of the production of Botanica Magnifica can be found in an article in Vanity Fair written by Howard Kaplan.
The photographs in Botanica Magnifica were printed by Cathy and Jon Cone of Cone Editions Press in Vermont and bound by the well-known book binder Ms. Tini Miura of California, who was responsible for rebinding the set of Audubon books at the Smithsonian. Botanica Magnifica is now in place in the Culman Rare Book Library at the Smithsonian and can be seen by appointment.
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