從觀察出發的植物科學繪圖展《創世 Genesis》

第一次走進圖書室時，最深的感受就是驚嘆。

這裡收藏著許多跨越數百年的植物古籍，從不同時期的植物科學繪畫、銅版、石版到各種印刷工藝，每翻開一頁，都忍不住停下來細看。這些作品不只是美麗的圖像，更曾是植物命名、辨識與研究的重要依據。

這次策展，我一直在想，要怎麼讓沒有植物學背景的人，也能享受這些館藏，而不是覺得它們離自己很遙遠。

所以整個展覽，是從不同的視角慢慢展開的。

一開始，我們從「觀察」開始。從遠觀、肉眼、顯微鏡到植物解剖，試著跟著植物科學繪師的眼睛，一步步重新認識眼前的植物；接著把視角拉遠，去看看植物如何經過數億年的演化，一點一點改變地球的樣貌；最後，再把視角放回植物本身，看它們如何和環境、昆蟲、其他生物彼此影響、共同演化。

除了展品之外，也設計了不少互動體驗。可以實際操作顯微鏡、動手描繪植物，希望大家不是一路讀文字，而是真的用自己的眼睛去發現植物的細節。

展覽裡也運用了大量館藏中的圖像。每翻開一本古籍，都很難不佩服北鳥老師這些年投入的心力。收藏、保存這些珍貴的資料並不容易，而她也願意透過圖書室和展覽，把這些原本不容易接觸到的館藏分享給更多人。

如果最近有空，很推薦去古花藝術圖書室走走。

看完展，也可以留一點時間在圖書室裡翻翻書、坐一會兒。除了展覽之外，這本身就是一個很舒服、很容易讓人待上一個下午的空間。

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On my first visit to the library, almost every book made me pause.

The collection brings together botanical books spanning several centuries, with botanical illustrations, copperplate engravings, lithographs and a range of printing techniques from different periods. Every page reveals not only the beauty of plants, but also the ways in which people have observed, recorded and understood the natural world across generations. These images have also served as important references for plant identification, classification and research.

For this exhibition, I kept thinking about how to invite visitors without a background in botany to engage with these collections, rather than see them as belonging to a distant scientific world.

Genesis unfolds through a series of changing perspectives.

The exhibition begins with the act of observation itself. It moves from distant views and the naked eye to microscopy and dissection, following the perspective of botanical artists as they carefully examine and represent plants. The view then expands to consider how plants have transformed the Earth over billions of years of evolution. Finally, the focus returns to plants themselves and to the ways they interact with their surroundings and other species through adaptation and co-evolution.

Alongside the historical collections, we created interactive experiences that allow visitors to use microscopes and try botanical drawing for themselves. Rather than simply reading about plants, we hope visitors can take the time to look closely, observe in their own way and make their own discoveries.

A large part of the exhibition is built around images from the library’s own collection. Each time I turned a page of these historical books, I was reminded of the dedication involved in preserving them. Collecting and caring for these materials requires years of commitment, and I admire Ms Northbird’s efforts to preserve these works and share them with a wider audience through the library and its exhibitions.

The library itself also became an important part of my experience of the exhibition. After seeing Genesis, I would recommend spending a little more time exploring Gu Hua Botanical Art Library & Florilegium. Browse the shelves, open a few books and simply stay for a while.

It is a space that encourages slow looking, and somewhere you can easily spend an afternoon.

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01｜一座圖書室，收藏一個植物世界

展覽的起點，是北鳥老師多年收藏的珍貴植物古籍。這些跨越百年的圖像與知識，構成了《創世》最重要的內容基礎。

The exhibition began with Northbirds’ collection of rare botanical books. Spanning more than a century, their images and knowledge became the foundation of Genesis.

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02｜讓書頁裡的知識走進空間

古籍中的植物繪圖被重新梳理、放大與並置，串連成植物由海洋走向陸地的演化脈絡，讓知識可以被一眼閱讀。

Botanical illustrations from historical books were reorganized, enlarged, and placed in dialogue—forming a visual narrative of plants moving from water onto land.

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03｜讓知識變得可以觀看

除了文字與圖像，展場也加入種子、鳥類、昆蟲與植物標本，對照古籍裡的描繪，讓抽象的植物知識轉化為具體而生動的觀看經驗。

Seeds, birds, insects, and botanical specimens were placed alongside illustrations from historical books, turning abstract knowledge into a vivid and tangible visual experience.

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04｜把觀察變成親身經驗

展場設置解剖顯微鏡與繪畫體驗，邀請觀眾實際操作、動手描繪，從不同尺度觀察一朵花的構造。

Dissecting microscopes and drawing activities invite visitors to observe, operate, and sketch—discovering the structure of a flower at different scales.

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05｜從觀看植物，到重新理解自然

《創世》從一幅畫、一件標本或一片葉子的細節開始，再次理解植物與我們所在的世界。

Genesis beginning with an illustration, a specimen, or the detail of a leaf, and returning to the world we share with plants.

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【展覽資訊 Info】

展覽｜《創世 Genesis》

展期｜2026.07.18 - 10.17

地點｜古花－植物藝術圖書室 Gu Hua Botanical Art Library & Florilegium

地址｜台北市中山區吉林路161巷31號1樓

開放時間｜12:30 - 17:30

參觀方式｜參觀券 NT$100／人，價格請依古花－植物藝術圖書室公告為準

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【 策展團隊 】

客戶｜北鳥 - 自然美學時光

策展統籌｜蘊流策展事務所

策展人｜劉韻慈

專案管理｜么裕庭

視覺設計｜陳令佳

布展執行｜劉韻慈、么裕庭

科學審閱與諮詢｜胡哲明教授、沙漫沙・黃

空間攝影｜李阮修

平面輸出｜晨楓廣告

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Curatorial Team

Client: Northbirds

Curatorial Producer: CirCurate

Curator: Poe Liu

Project Management: Chris Yao

Visual Design: Jar Chen

Scientific Review & Consultation: Prof. Hu Jer-Ming and Samantha Huang

Photography: leejuanshow

Printing: Chen-Feng Advertising Design