Leaves Collected on 27 of October in the Glasgraben 1977

Herman de Vries made this work with leaves he collected on a specific day in October. The leaves are arranged in neat rows and columns. I guess you could say that De Vries is working with a found palette here, carefully choosing and arranging these autumnally inflected tones and shapes. The texture of the leaves is subtly varied; some are smooth, others show the wear and tear of their natural existence. Take a look at the leaf on the top left, its edge has been nibbled. The light catches the surface, revealing the delicate network of veins and the subtle gradations of color. The physicality of the leaves — their fragility, their impermanence — speaks to the cyclical nature of life and decay. There’s a kinship here with the work of Andy Goldsworthy, another artist who engages directly with natural materials, embracing process and ephemerality as integral aspects of their art making.