Dornith Doherty

The artworks in Botanical Fragments are the result of two years of research in the Botanical Research Institute of Texas herbarium. I combined photographic images of rescued mid-twentieth century microscope slides and herbarium specimens from disparate eras and locations, purposefully reworking the color while selectively maintaining historical traces like dust, scratches, stains, and structural damage.

By photographing the unseen details of these scientific archives, I invite viewers to consider the tension between preservation and erasure, the profound value of botanical research, and our interconnected ecological futures. This work reflects my deep environmental concerns and appreciation for the resilience of botanical life, and, I hope, resists simplified categorization or singular interpretations.