A life botanic
Ms Celia Rosser
In a setting befitting the beauty of her work, internationally acclaimed artist Celia Rosser will be the focus of a new book to be launched at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne later this month.
Banksia Lady tells the tale of Ms Rosser, who dedicated her life to painting the entire genus of Banksia. Her dedication put her at the centre of the Monash Banksia Project for 25 years, and culminated in an extraordinary three-volume florilegium that became one of the great books published in the twentieth century.
Written by Carolyn Landon, Banksia Lady reveals the emergence of an artist who grew up in difficult circumstances during the Great Depression and used her art to protect herself from the harsher side of life. It follows her struggle to pursue her artistic passion while fulfilling the expectations of women of the 1950s. Ms Rosser eventually found a place at Monash University to fully express herself through her art.
Ms Rosser was appointed Science Faculty Artist at Monash in 1970. Later in 1974, she was appointed University Botanical Artist, which is when she started her project painting every Banksia species. She was awarded an honorary Master of Science from in Monash in 1981 and later an honorary doctorate in 1999.
Ms Landon said writing the book brought her firmly into a world and depth of passion previously unknown to her.
“[Ms Rosser’s] commitment to the extraordinary plant, the Banksia, drew me into the Australian and European history of exploration, science, botany,” Ms Landon said.
“Most importantly, I learned the history of the ancient art of botanical illustration, and began to understand Celia’s place in its tradition.
“It was endlessly fascinating. It changed my way of seeing the world like none of my other projects have.”
Director of Monash University Publishing, Dr Nathan Hollier, said the book tells a significant part of Monash history.
“Celia’s artistic achievements are incredible and deserve to be much more widely known. Her story as an artist is also intimately connected with the story of Monash University, which sponsored her Banksias project. Yet many Monash people have not known this before now,” Dr Hollier said.
“Carolyn Landon has written an illuminating, atmospheric, highly readable work that we think will charm anyone with an interest in plants, art, or any combination of these.”
Carolyn Landon has written several award winning memoir/biographies focusing on ordinary people whose lives define and are defined by the times in which they live. She is author of Jackson's Track; Memoir of a Dreamtime Place; Jackson's Track Revisited; History Remembrance and Reconciliation; Cups with No Handles; Memoir of a Grassroots Activist and Black Swan; A Koorie Woman's Life. She has a Masters Degree in Biography and Life Writing.
Banksia Lady: Celia Rosser, Botanical Artist will be launched Sunday 21 June, 3.30-4.30pm, at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne. RSVP by 16 June to Sarah Cannon sarah.cannon@monash.edu or call 03 9905 0526.