This book is related to the special exhibition "Orchids Blossom - Botanical Art Collections from the University of Tokyo" held in 2021 at the JP Tower Museum INTERMEDIATHEQUE (Marunouchi, Tokyo) jointly operated by the University Museum of the University of Tokyo and Japan Post Co., Ltd. The exhibition brought together a wide variety of orchid illustrations and related exhibits alongside the botanical research of the University of Tokyo from the Meiji period to the present day. It also attempted to follow the "Naturalis Historia of Orchids," from the natural history that elucidates the ecology of the orchid plant, to the cultural history that captures the activities of people who interacted with orchids. The exhibition provided an opportunity to scientifically observe the various forms of orchids and to appreciate them artistically. The purpose of this book is to newly develop the theme of the "Naturalis Historia of Orchids," on paper, which bridges science and art. One point about this book’s social significance is that it enables the "Naturalis Historia of Orchids" to be delivered to many people as an exhibition on paper, including those who were unable to visit the venue of the special exhibition that was held during the COVID-19 crisis.
 
To introduce one hundred aspects of orchids as a part of natural history, this book contains 100 plates selected from materials mainly from the University of Tokyo collection that were shown in the special exhibition, along with 10 reference plates. These include valuable Meiji-era botanical illustrations, botanical specimens, books, picture postcards, photographs, and many other materials that have not been shown to the public before. Each plate is accompanied by a comprehensive explanation; for example, the descriptions for the botanical illustrations combine basic botanical information such as the area and ecological characteristics of the illustrated orchids, the artistic characteristics of the illustrations, connections between botanical art and botanical research, and information that shows the background of the creation process. This interdisciplinary nature is one of the major characteristics of the research results presented in this book.
 
The book starts with the introduction "Orchids," followed by chapters on the botanical art of orchids; Chapter 1 "The work of Illustrators,"; Chapter 2 " Ōkubo Saburō and Bulbophyllum Drymoglossum"; Chapter 3 "Nakajima Mutsuko’s Anatomical Illustrations of Orchids," a chapter on botanical specimens; Chapter 4 "Orchidaceae Specimens," Chapter 5 "Botanical Gardens," chapters on related materials; Chapter 6 "Plant Pots"; Chapter 7 "Western Orchid Reference Books," which deals with a broader range of peripheral materials; and Chapter 8 "Orchid Tastes". The book is based on the image of the "Naturalis Historia of Orchids" created by expanding the topic of each chapter in a concentric manner with botanical illustrations at its core. The essays on orchids are written from various perspectives by researchers in various fields of the humanities and sciences and a botanical illustrator included in this book plays a role in enriching the world of the "Naturalis Historia of Orchids."

This book covers a wide range of botanical illustrators from past professional artists engaged in illustrating scientific specimens of plants, as university employees in the Meiji period, to present scientific illustrators from whom we can understand the creation process of modern world-class botanical illustrations. Unlike so-called artists, their names rarely appear publicly, so the diversity of botanical illustrators featured in this book is unparalleled. This book introduces herbarium specimens which are the most basic research materials in botany, but rarely seen by non-specialists, and shows that botanical illustrations complement the specimens as a tool in botanical research. In addition, it also brings to the forefront the Orchidaceae specimens from the Meiji period to the Showa period and the people involved in the collection and description of the Herbarium of the University of Tokyo. It thus unravels part of the history of botanical research at the University of Tokyo. These features make the book an approach to historical research based on museum materials.
 

(Written by TERADA Ayumi, Project Associate Professor, The University Museum / 2022)

Table of Contents

Related Info

Award:
UMAC Award 2022 Second Place  (ICOM  Sept. 18, 2022)
http://umac.icom.museum/umac-award-2022-announced/

UMAC AWARD 2022: THE WINNER  (UMAC-ICOM University Museums and Collections | YouTube (ICOM  Sept. 18, 2022)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj25wca1KbY

UMAC AWARD 2022 Nominees (Episode 2): ORCHID BLOSSOMS, Tokyo University Museum / Intermediathèque  (UMAC-ICOM University Museums and Collections | YouTube  (ICOM  Sept. 8, 2022)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8uvd91qHzc

Special Exhibition:
Intermediatheque Natural History Series <8> Special Exhibition “Orchids Blossom – Botanical Art Collections from the University of Tokyo”  (Dates: June 19–September 26, 2021, Organizer: The University Museum, the University of Tokyo [UMUT])
http://www.intermediatheque.jp/en/schedule/view/index/pasts/id/IMT0238/year/2021

e-HAGAKI Ayumi Terada 03 (INTERMEDIATHEQUE | YouTube  July 5, 2021)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zER_QIfbok
 

Try these read-alike books: