Abstract
This paper examines how representation operates in curatorial practice at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), an institution deeply tied to the history of imperial botany yet often overlooked in decolonial scholarship. Using the case studies of Connecting Histories and Silent Archive, it investigates how archival materials, visual storytelling, and artistic collaborations are deployed to reframe whose histories are told and how they are seen. The analysis finds that while these exhibitions succeed in foregrounding marginalised voices and unsettling dominant botanical narratives, gaps in collections, interpretive framing, and spatial design restrict fuller representation. These challenges reveal the tensions inherent in portraying colonial botanical heritage in ways that are both inclusive and critically engaged. By situating RBGE’s curatorial strategies within wider debates on museum representation, this study reflects on how botanical institutions can confront their imperial past while shaping new narratives for contemporary audiences.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Curatorial Practice, Decolonisation, Colonial Legacies, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
