Organiser: Dr Emilia Terracciano (emilia.terracciano@manchester.ac.uk)

In this workshop we consider what it means to pick a found leaf, flower, root, or plant and to create an impression on paper of it. The practice of ‘nature printing,’ is about taking impressions directly from the surface of natural objects to produce visual representations on paper. The surface of a freshly-cut or dried plant, or other natural object, is covered with ink and pressed – either by hand or by a hand-operated press – onto paper, leaving a clear and detailed impression. The result is a one-to-one scale print with the properties of the specimen stuck onto the surface of the paper. The size and fragility of the original specimen dictates the modus operandi. No two prints are the same. Recognised as the earliest precursor to photography, direct printing was applied in the study of useful and medicinal botanical species as part of the wider project of botanical classification and empire. The process developed alongside the evolution of botanical science and research into plant physiology; printing directly from specimens, scientists and plant enthusiasts could visualise plants in a cheap and simple way for greater visual and textural impact. Ultimately, in this workshop we consider what the difference between seeing a plant, and ‘feeling it’ might mean for us in the context of Manchester today.

(Please note: Events in this series are open to University of Manchester staff and PGRs only)