Zheng Bo has meticulously hand-copied three botanical manuals of edible plants which were published to support people’s survival during turbulent times. Famine Preparation Botanical Drawings (Biko somoku zu, 1833) was a response to a series of famines in Edo period, consisting of 104 drawings of comestible plants. Taiwan’s Wild Edible Plants (Taiwan yesheng shiyong zhiwu tupu, 1945), issued by the Japanese occupational forces, reveals the growing shortage of food during the last months of the WWII. In China, the Great Leap Forward (1958-60) led to widespread famine. The Shanghai’s Wild Edible Plants (Shanghai yesheng shiyong zhiwu, 1961), published by the Communist Party, was similarly aimed to alleviate everyday scarcity. Whereas each of these three manuals bear witness to a specific historical moment and human suffering it caused, taken together they offer new ways to understand the politicization of plants.

The exhibition at Kunstgang in Lipsius displays reproductions of the series of drawings from the three books.

This workshop will delve into the aesthetics, histories and usages of plants in the Chinese Garden of Hortus. The first part, guided by Zheng Bo, will focus on examining the aesthetic variety of flowers and herbs through drawing. The second part consist of a guided tour (in English) led by one of the specialists of Hortus.

The drawing equipment (boards, paper, pencils) will be provided. Since the workshop will be held outdoors, please bring your own umbrella/ raincoat in case of rain.

The entrance to the garden is sponsored by Hortus.