Exhibition Details

Gallery FUMI is delighted to present a major exhibition of new works by British designer Max Lamb, entirely made of cardboard. By connecting art and anthropology to materiality and improvisation, Lamb creates pieces that embody new histories of craft and give value to a material often seen as secondary. In his practice, London-based Lamb thrives on the realm of contemplative discovery, firmly breaking away from traditional processes and instead developing his singular typologies that blend art, design and functionality. A childhood spent outdoors adventuring in Cornwall and working on his grandfather’s Yorkshire farm nurtured his curiosity and creative spirit as well as his ability to handle raw and industrial materials and problem-solve. His proclivity for experimentation and deftness with tools and materials have galvanised his use of unconventional techniques, resulting in an array of distinct pieces that value the human touch and the individual maker. Catalysed by his interest in sustainability and intrigued by the challenge of giving scrap material primary value, Lamb sought to make use of the ever-increasing piles of cardboard accumulating in his studio.
Surplus materials included unbleached cardboard tubes used to store and transport his Space-Dyed tufted rugs, surplus quality corrugated cardboard gathered over time from museum loans and various workshop projects, as well as every day delivery boxes with varied different shapes, colours and textures. Working with or against pre-cut shapes by cutting, scoring, folding, crushing and reassembling with bolts, screws, paper gum tape and a home-made wheat-based glue (flour and water), Lamb assembles volumes of cardboard into forms, building up layers of the ubiquitous brown paper to create structural integrity like that of rock or wood yet retaining evidence of the making. Although achieving durability whilst preserving the personality of the material proved a challenge, Lamb has successfully elevated the works from an exercise in form building to design pieces. Transforming this ephemeral, often single-use and undervalued material into functional, beautiful and sustainable furniture.
A collaborator and friend of the gallery for over 15 years, Lamb has been firmly rooted in the nucleus of Gallery FUMI since its inception. Valerio Capo, co-founder said, "From the early days when we showed Max’s first works at our original gallery in Shoreditch, we've watched him grow alongside us. His latest project is a true testament to his talent and creativity and we feel fortunate to be a part of his artistic journey."