Between Thorn and Leaf

About this piece

Mike Gedj brings pale, thorn-bearing stems into close view, setting their fissured surfaces against rounded green leaves and a slender opening of blue. Bright sunlight and selective focus heighten the contrast between the leaves’ soft contours and the pointed geometry of the thorns.

The story

I looked into the narrow space between the stems and found a frame already waiting there. The blue beyond gave each leaf room to stand apart, while the thorns interrupted the green with their small, insistent points. I stayed close, letting the nearest leaves soften out of focus. What held my attention was the way the light touched everything equally: the tender curves, the dry skin of the stems, the sharp edges.