Medicinal Flower Series 2014 - Cian Oba Smith - Art Review by Cassia Clarke

As I sat in the sterile, anxiety-inducing environment of a hospital, I unexpectedly found solace in the work of Cian Oba Smith, a photographer whose work I had previously only encountered in a university lecture theatre. Seeing his photograph in person, rather than on a screen, was an entirely different experience - one that resonated with me deeply over the four hours I spent with it.

The photograph itself, titled Medicinal Flower Series 2014, depicting the Salvia Scabra plant is angelic. The muted tones and softened edges of light created an atmosphere of stillness and contemplation, a stark contrast to the clinical brightness surrounding me. If you stare at it long enough, you start to feel the  warmth of the sun and the swaying of the wind captured in this one photograph. 

I sat in the seat by the window, the furthest from the photograph, so for the first hour or so, I paid the photograph no mind. But with time, I had to stretch my legs, and I began to walk around the small space of the waiting room that I was sharing with my entourage of three. I noticed the name. It was familiar, so I googled ‘Cian Oba Smith’. I was reminded that as a student I was introduced to him through his Concrete Horseman series. 

In person, the photograph is more alive and impactful, in a way that a digital representation could never truly capture. Smith’s print is part of a larger series that was specifically made for that hospital. The plants themselves were photographed at a nearby garden. The Salvia Scabra was photographed in such a way that I could imagine myself right there, in the moment of its capture. 

Everyone had to rearrange themselves just so I could photograph it, so I could keep it somehow. This image became a piece of my calm in the midst of my anxiety. 

In those four hours, Cian Oba Smith’s photograph became more than just an image on a wall - it was a companion in a moment of need. The experience reminded me of the profound impact that art can have on us in times of vulnerability. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected encounters can leave the deepest impressions.