Students Enjoy the Intersection of Nature and Identity at the Opening Reception of ‘Botanical Bodies’ Exhibit

Laughter filled the greenhouse as the camera flashed, documenting the flowering vine weaving around a student’s leg. A group gathered around to watch the photo develop, eager to add it to the collection already on the wall: photos of flora adorning arms, elbows, and ankles. The photo wall was just one of the interactive features that visitors were able to enjoy during the opening reception for the photography exhibit Botanical Bodies: When identity blossoms on skin at Lyman Plant House on Friday, January 31.  

The newly-opened exhibit, produced by the 2023-2024 Botanic Garden Student Educators (BoGSEs) and photographed by senior Nivedita Pari, explores the intimate relationship between nature and personal identity through photographs of individuals with botanical tattoos and the stories of their significance. At the reception, which included the unveiling of the seventeen photographs as well as interactive elements like the photo booth and a temporary tattoo station, students and community members got the chance to see the exhibit and share an evening at the greenhouse. 

Under the guidance of Associate Director of Education and Interpretation Sarah Loomis, Malika Gottfried ’25–who was serving as the botanic garden education intern last year–brought the idea of the exhibit to life with the help of the BoGSEs. Gottfried managed the production of the exhibit, including finding the photographer, designing the website, and coordinating the logistical aspects of Botanical Bodies. The 2023-2024 BoGSE team–Magda, Abagail, Kris, and Eleanor–supported with these efforts and created supplemental texts on the cultural traditions of tattooing, which are on display in Cool Temperate House in Lyman alongside the photo booth.

The exhibit photographs, which are displayed in the corridor next to the main lobby, received glowing reviews from multiple students. Ej Hinton ’27 described being “very impressed all around.”

“I think that the composition of the photos utilizing the natural light that occurs in the greenhouse created really beautiful contrast within the photos and also made it so that you could see the line work really clearly in the tattoos,” Hinton said. Aside from being an avid enjoyer of the botanic garden, as an art major, they try to go to any art-related events. While Hinton doesn’t have any botanical tattoos themself, they said they would definitely consider getting one in the future.

Back in the greenhouse, Citlali Navarette ’27 and Celeste Garcia-Torrez shared Hinton’s positive feelings. They both described having a close connection to nature, although neither have botanical tattoos themselves. When asked what attracted them to the event, Navarette said “everytime that I have visited the botanic garden I have left feeling inspired and renewed … that's what brought me back today specifically for this event, and I also wanted to share this experience with Celeste.”

Some students took that feeling of inspiration literally and adorned themselves with new (temporary) tattoos at the station outside of the greenhouse. Paige Woodard ’25, who is part of the Botanic Garden Student Educator team, enjoyed adding temporary designs to her forearm alongside her real, permanent tattoo. She got her tattoo to commemorate her experience while studying abroad last year in France. “I got the first set of vines on my collar bones… I ended up loving it so much and felt it really fit me that I decided to go back for the second part,” she said. She plans to get more botanical tattoos, partially inspired by her experience working at the botanic garden for the past two years.

“I know that tattoos can still be seen as taboo, but I hope that by reading these stories people will leave with a greater respect for those who get tattoos and also the artists who are creating these images on our skin!” said Gottfried. “Tattooing is a beautiful, intimate art form, and it has been fun to explore not just the connections between art and plants, but how those elements intertwine with our bodies as well.”

Visit the Botanical Bodies website to see all of the photographs and stories from the exhibit. Or, experience the exhibit in person and come visit Lyman Plant House! It will be available to enjoy through May 30, 2025.