Leather artist rediscovers ancient techniques
Leather is a versatile and powerful medium for expression, as is often illustrated by artists who incorporate it into their work. Trevor Lamb is one such artist who uses the material to create sculptures and other art works and is presently exhibiting his work at the Anderson Park Art Gallery in Invercargill, New Zealand.
Ex-policeman Trevor claims his inspiration comes from many sources including Italian street theatre masks and Asian art. He says that techniques used to make Italian masks are 400 years old and rarely used today. "I am one of the few non-Italians ... using these ancient techniques to make contemporary and challenging art works."
He is fascinated by leather's living characteristics. In the exhibition entitled ‘Exposed’, he has two hats and mirrors with leather faces and bodies mounted on them. Both incorporate leather and ostrich skin. He says that there is a close bond between the material he uses and the subject matter: "When we see the human form, we see skin. Leather... is skin."
