Symposium | Seeds of Exchange: Canton and London in the 1700s

Join us for a symposium accompanying the exhibition Seeds of Exchange: Canton and London in the 1700s, exploring the rich history of botanical exchange, scientific curiosity and cross-cultural collaboration that connected gardens, artists and scholars across continents in the late eighteenth century. 

This symposium brings together academics, curators, and museum professionals to examine the networks of knowledge, materials and people that shaped early modern botanical science. Through presentations, panel discussions and Q&As, we will unpack the stories behind the plants, paintings and research featured in the Seeds of Exchange exhibition – and consider their legacies today. 

Speakers include:

Winnie Wong Professor of Rhetoric at University of California, Berkeley

Karina H. Corrigan Deputy Chief Curator and H. A. Crosby Forbes Curator of Asian Export Art at Peabody Essex Museum

Emile de Bruijn Assistant National Curator Decorative Arts, National Trust

Jordan Goodman Honorary Research Associate in the Department of Science and Technology Studies at University College London

Peter Crane President of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation

Chin Roo DEI Consultant and Interpretation Consultant for Seeds of Exchange exhibition

Emma House Curator at the Garden Museum

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