Author(s): Editd by Carlos Lehnebach, Claire Regnault, Rebecca Rice, Isaac Te Awa and Rachel Yate

Art | Aotearoa | History | Aotearoa New Zealand Non-Fiction | Plants | Read our reviews! | 2024 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards long lists

This big, glorious big book mines Te Papa's collections to explore and expand upon the way we think about our botanical world and its cultural imprint. A true treasure, it features over 400 selections by an expert, cross-disciplinary museum curatorial team that range from botanical specimens and art to photography, furniture, jewellery, tivaevae, applied art, textiles, stamps and more.

Flora's twelve essays provide a deeper contextual understanding of different topics, including the unique characteristics of New Zealand flora as well as how artists and cultures have used flora as a motif and a subject over time. Elegant, expert and engrossing.

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STELLA'S REVIEW:
It’s the time of the year when the New Zealand publishing industry reveals its best and biggest new titles, and many of these are stunning art books. Flora - Celebrating Our Botanical World is one of the gems. This looked stunning even when it was only a cover image and description when it was sold in a few months back, but it’s even better than expected. You can peep inside here. The title is slightly misleading as it made me think that this would only appeal to those who love botanical drawings and precise painterly renditions. In fact, the book draws from an array of disciplines across Te Papa’s collection, including the aforementioned, to textiles, jewellery, photography, furniture, and more. It has a good cross-section of historic and contemporary works, European-inspired as well as Pacifica focuses, and with 400 selections it’s a true treasure box. It’s lovely to look at, as well as being a source of excellent information and expert analysis. The essays are wide-ranging and contextually interesting. Flora is a fine example of cultural history as told through objects, and the texts add that layer that makes this publication a standout. Treat yourself or another art/flora lover.