Dazzling oak leaf prints merge science and nature

An oak tree sheds hundreds of thousands of leaves yearly, each leaf returning vital nutrients to the forest floor. Artist Clare Hewitt explores the interconnectedness of the forest ecosystem, where every element plays a role in sustaining life. “There are these little symbiotic relationships happening between all of the forest,” she explains.

Over a span of five years, Hewitt visited a cluster of oak trees nestled within the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research in the UK. Motivated by a desire to understand connection and resource sharing, she embarked on a journey of artistic exploration within the forest. “You come to know them as you would know a friend,” Hewitt reflects on her bond with the trees.

Unable to disturb the natural environment, Hewitt transformed the forest into her creative space. Using fallen oak leaves and expired photo paper, she crafted lumen prints by exposing them to sunlight before returning them to the forest floor. “It’s really about time and light,” Hewitt emphasizes, highlighting the scientific aspect of her photographic process.

The oak leaf prints are featured in Hewitt’s exhibition, Everything in the Forest is the Forest, at the Impressions Gallery in Bradford, UK, running until 23 August. The showcase includes a collection of tree-inspired artworks, such as a biodegradable book made from mushroom-based paper and plant-based inks, further underscoring Hewitt’s deep connection to the natural world.