The Botanical Artists Association of Southern Africa (BAASA), KwaZulu-Natal Branch is hosting it's third annual Botanical Art Exhibition in November. The event represents some of the province’s finest Botanical Artists as well as a number of leading artists from around the country when over 30 artists will exhibiting more than 100 original botanical art works.

Botanical art has a rich tradition of meticulous attention to the realistic depiction of horticultural specimens, coupled with artistic technique of the highest order. As such, botanical art has both scientific and aesthetic appeal. South African botanical art enjoys increasing public support both locally and internationally.

The history of botanical art is rooted in the illustration of botanical texts most often presented as original or printed (woodcuts and lithographs) books plates. The emergence of the genre as a distinct discipline reflects this tradition and at the same time has enabled unprecedented creativity whilst remaining true to scientific accuracy.

Local botanical artists have developed a style that is of international standard yet still remains distinctive in its subject matter and painterly approach. The richness and diversity of indigenous South African flora has sparked the imagination of the international market and has also led to the emergence of dedicated local collectors.

By staging this ambitious exhibition BAASA hopes to bring to public attention the beauty and vibrancy of botanical art together with a new awareness of our unique and vulnerable indigenous plant heritage.

The exhibition will take place at the Durban Botanic Gardens, NBS Education Centre and will be open for public viewing daily from November 3 to December 17 from 09h00 to 17h00. There is no entrance fee.