Artwork copyright Ken Smith. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Ken Smith. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Hands Revealing Two Leaves, 1997

Ken Smith
(American, born 1950)

Location: Central Kitchen, Puyallup

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Hands Revealing Two Leaves is a photograph taken by artist Ken Smith. The imagery is very different from the artist's earlier series of still-life nature photographs on simple black backdrops. Instead, Smith focuses on the beauty of simple forms. He captures two leaves cupped in a young woman's outstretched hands. He notes, "Since my idea with my still lifes is that they reveal something of the viewer, at the same time that they reveal themselves, I had the idea to use a young woman's hands to "reveal" the leaves. I used handmade paper that included pieces of leaf matter in it and backlit it behind the model's hands."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Puyallup School District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Fine art photographer Ken Smith creates luminous still life and landscape photography. He lives and works in the foothills of the North Cascade Mountains and his work is influenced by Washington's natural landscape.
In his own words, "I have discovered an old but current Japanese philosophy and way of living called "Wabi-Sabi" which contemplates naturalness, impermanence, incompleteness, and the imperfection of all things. This philosophy puts into words many of the feelings I have always known... The true essence and importance of art is that it causes the viewer to recall or question his own self. This is why art is a keystone in a healthy society."