The Journal of Australian Ceramics Vol 52 No 3 November 2013

Artist in Residence
Cultivate
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Helen Earl recounts her residency experience at the
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
In 201 1 I was selected as Artist in Residence for the Royal Botanic
Garden Sydney. The residency invites the artist to work in, and
be inspired by, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and its scientific
collections, which are housed in the National Herbarium of NSW
The residency culminated in a solo exhibition titled Cultivate, in
2012 . The stated mission of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, 'to inspire the appreciation
and conservation of plants', provided the catalyst for my research to explore the con nections that existed
between people and plants w ith in the oldest botanical garden and scientific institution in Australia.
My artwork reflected on the meaning of cultivation, specifically the physical tending of the garden,
the promotion of plant growth and the fostering of scientific, cultural, environmental and historical
knowledge.
The installation, From Jungle to Teacup, explored various meanings of cultivation by creating a
narra tive around different species of Camellia. Cu ltivars such as the C japonica and C sasanqua as
well as the tea plant. C sinensis, grow in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney but the resea rch undertaken
by scientists of the Camellia Project' focused on rare tropical and sub-tropical camellias of Indo China.
From Jungle to Teacup is a poetic narrative about the excitement communicated to me in an
interview with Dr Adam Marchant, Dr George Orel and Tony Curry. They recounted a plant hunting
Helen Earl, From Jungle to Teacup, installation. wooden desk, porcelain flowers, tile, cup, sugarcane, paper, tea leaves, glass
jar, wooden chair frame, ceramic seat, porcelain and terracotta leaves, paperclay dustpan, ceramic broom. various dimensions
Photo: Helen Stevenson, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust