Internationally renowned artist and sculptor Zadok Ben-David brings his award-winning work to the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art at Kew Gardens this autumn from 16 October 2021 to 27 March 2022. Zadok Ben-David: Natural Reserve is the first solo exhibition to incorporate new and existing works by the artist in the UK since 2008.
The exhibition centers on themes of tragedy and hope, focusing on the constantly evolving relationship between humanity and the natural world. The exhibition will also feature work including Winter Lights, a large sculpture outside the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art Made from Corten (weathering steel), the piece takes the form of a tree comprised of interlinked human silhouettes and rusts when exposed to the elements. This process forms a constantly regenerating protective coating, allowing the sculpture to constantly evolve and mirroring the changing seasons in nature.
PETER GABRIEL, MUSICIAN
Other works on display as part of this landmark exhibition include Ben-David’s Conversation Peace, incorporating depictions of trees, butterflies, insects, flowers, and human shapes, and The Other Side of Midnight, a three-meter circle comprised of over 2,000 miniature hand-painted butterflies and insects.
Alongside the exhibition (16 October 2021 to 27 March 2022) a display of exquisite paintings from the Shirley Sherwood Collection will be shown in Gallery 6. ‘Elegant and enchanting botanical art from Japan, Thailand, Korea, China, and Malaysia’ will showcase a variety of works from contemporary artists across the Asia Pacific region. As well as this, No Plants, No Planet, a virtual exhibition by the Association of British Botanical Artists (ABBA) looks at the crucial role which plants play in the health of our planet in preserving biodiversity and supports a key discussion theme ahead of COP26.
A book to accompany the exhibition will be published by Kew Publishing, with contributing essay by Yael Guilat.
