Denise Lamby is a visual and sculptural artist, photographer and author. In 2020, as a first-time finalist in Paper on Skin, she received the Tasmanian Hearing and Implant Centre, Dr Kellie Walker’s Encouragement Award of $1000 for her work New Life. New Life was a work of prodigious effort comprising over 3000 discarded teabags that Denise had repurposed in a variety of ways.
With her 2022 piece, Checks and Balances, Denise has called on every variation of tea bag manipulation that she has experimented with over the past 6 years.
Denise describes the process: ‘Joining the tea bags into ribbons for weaving took weeks. The methodical hanging and drying of each tea bag became an addictive process. Emptying each individual bag was an exercise in patience, persistence and overcoming the inner voice of reason - 'what am I doing?' This process took months.’
‘Delicate yet strong, the train floats on the faintest breeze. The underbodice constructed purely from tea bags and joined only at the sides ensures maximum comfort that is structurally strong enough to lace securely.’
‘…finding a structure to support the headpiece was a difficult challenge, let’s just say my vision and thought processes changed frequently. A purist when it comes to recycled art it is important that only reused, reclaimed and recycled items are used.’
Thematically, Checks and Balances shows many faces and ‘…represents the facades and multiple images we present to the world as we strive to keep our lives in check. The multitude of roles we balance on a daily basis excitedly explode, unable to be contained.’
Denise’s work is a true reflection of her Artist’s Statement: ‘I am passionately influenced by the environment. Patterns in nature, repetition, texture and colour inform my art practice and feature predominantly in my creative outcomes. Currently focused on repurposing post-consumer products otherwise destined for landfill, essentially giving new life to unexpected reclaimed and recycled materials.
Materials: Approximately 2000 reclaimed tea bags, systematically dried, untied, emptied and flattened before their creative adventures begin. The teabags have been dyed, sewn, gathered, chopped, woven, joined and/or hand rolled.
DENISE LAMBY WEBSITE
DENISE LAMBY INSTAGRAM