Compressed Leaves is a seasonal work that emerged from material exploration and experimentation with biological matter. Leaves collected from the ground are compressed and dried in a mould under pressure, binding together to form a solid leaf composite. The work explores how an ephemeral natural material can be used sculpturally, and how hands-on experimentation can open up new ways of seeing and understanding a material.

Over time, the structure undergoes a natural process of weathering. Moisture and weight are lost, the vivid autumn colours fade, and the solid form gradually becomes more brittle until it eventually crumbles at the slightest touch. The work explores how time and decay can become active elements within the piece, and how transformation and impermanence are inherent to the character of the material.