From the 1st of April 2023 – the 17th of September 2023, the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art in Kew Gardens will be featuring two unique art exhibitions. With a focus on Islamic art and paintings, this will be the world’s first display space dedicated solely to this genre.
The exhibition will feature the works of artist Sue Wickison, who has become an internet sensation after displays of her artwork titled Plants of the Qur’an went viral on Instagram. Reaching new heights, Sue endeavoured to paint all the plants mentioned in the Quran with great precision and beauty.
From a tiny mustard seed to the majestic date palm, the exhibition showcases paintings from the book “Plants of the Qur’ān” that combines the skills of the northern hemisphere senior Kew Botanist Dr Shahina Ghazanfar and southern hemisphere Botanical Illustrator Sue Wickison.
Quranic Plants
The complementary exhibition features a host of brand-new botanical paintings of plants referenced in the Qur’ān. Unique in its very own way, botanical artist Sue travelled throughout the Middle East and used her observations and inspiration to illustrate plants referenced in the Qur’an including garlic, pomegranate, date palms, henna and flowering desert species. After searching for living plants in their original locations, Sue has now hand-painted watercolour studies which are being shown in this exhibition for the first time.
Sue mentions, “After six years of researching, sourcing and illustrating the many plants which are described in the Qur’ān, it’s wonderful to be able to celebrate the culmination of this work with this new exhibition. Having worked as a botanical illustrator at Kew Gardens for almost ten years, I’m really thrilled to be showcasing these new paintings in a place which is very special to me, collaborating with Dr Shahina Ghazanfar on this unique project.”
Audience Impressed
Sue Wickison’s works’ have impressed the masses, especially the many Muslims who have truly realised the beautiful manifestation of what Allah has revealed in the Quran about plants.
One comment on Instagram read, “Visited her exhibition at Kew recently…really stunning paintings! The love and respect that has gone into her work is really heartening. Each painting took her hundreds of hours and the research and development to ensure precision and accuracy was so thorough. Would highly recommend to anyone who is able to visit Kew”
Other Exhibitions
Visitors that make it to the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art in Kew Gardens to view the works of Sue Wickison will be happy to learn that there is another ongoing exhibition.
Anila Quayyum Agha is a Pakistani-American contemporary artist who will be showcasing two stunning pieces as part of the exhibition. All the Flowers are for Me takes the shape of a large, laser-cut steel cube suspended from the ceiling and is inspired by patterns used in Islamic art and architecture. Filling the gallery space with elaborate floor-to-ceiling shadow patterns, All the Flowers are for Me creates a unique experience where visitors can become a living, breathing part of the artwork, in an inclusive, sacred space. The work encompasses ideas of cultural connectedness and peaceful co-existence within the context of an increasingly fractious world
Admission to the exhibition is included in a ticket to Kew Gardens. Pre-booking online offers the best value visit.
Juber Ahmed is our Digital Editor and travel enthusiast with a keen interest in Islamic history and heritage. He travels with his wife to various places around the world and writes about his experiences.
Juber's favourite Quote...
"The World Is a Book and Those Who Do Not Travel Read Only One Page" [Saint Augustine]
