17,000 steel-etched flowers by artist zadok ben-david question life and death at kew gardens

at kew gardens

running until april 24th, the exhibition ‘zadok ben-david: natural reserve’ at kew gardens in the UK explores the ever-increasing fragility of the natural world through the over 17,000 etched, hand-painted flowers from the artist’s series titled ‘blackfield.’

the themes of tragedy and hope, as well as shining a uniquely creative light on the relationship between humanity and the natural world, come at the forefront of the exhibition, and the displayed flora, bent and shaped from metal, urges the viewers to reflect on their role in the ecosystem as a protector of the nature’s reserve.

cover and first three images courtesy of roger wooldridge

‘blackfield’ series

ben-david’s series ‘blackfield’ has traveled to museums around the world, from beijing and seoul to perth and california. the space-specific floor installation derives the flora styles and histories from the 19th century victorian encyclopedias that seem to adorn the bookshelves of vintage enthusiasts and previous-era devotees.

the artist’s work encourages the viewers to ponder on the notions of perception and perspective. through its delicate modesty and the gentle facet of each artwork that contrasts the material, the series brings up compelling ruminations on life and death.

while the exhibition at kew gardens displays over 17,000 of ben-david’s flora work, he has already crafted and accumulated more than 27,000 steel-etched flowers.

close-up view of a flower

on metalworking

born in bayhan, yemen in 1949, ben-david immigrated to israel the same year and graduated in advanced sculpture from st. martin’s school of art in london where he taught from 1977 to 1982.

the london-based artist has been acclaimed for his sculptures, installations, and public artworks which often relate to human nature and evolution. they are drenched with poetry and magic from their forms and looks, always oscillating between delicate miniature work and monumental installations.

he leans towards metalworking as his artistic medium in contrast to the subtle optical illusions that he creates thanks to this sometimes-rough medium.

a space-specific installation