TAMARA VON SCHENK
FROM AN EARLY AGE, TAMARA LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY AND HUMAN CONNECTION, VALUES DEEPLY INSTILLED IN HER BY HER MOTHER WHO LOST BOTH HER HOME AND HERITAGE WHEN SHE AND HER FAMILY WERE FORCED TO FLEE EAST PRUSSIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
THIS NEED FOR BELONGING AND A SENSE OF PLACE BECAME THE FOUNDATION OF TAMARA’S DESIGN PHILOSOPHY. A SELF-TAUGHT ARTIST WITH OVER TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN PAPER TECHNIQUES, HER WORK CARRIES A QUIET MESSAGE OF CONNECTION, EXPRESSED THROUGH FAMILIAR HOUSEHOLD OBJECTS.
SHE GAINED RECOGNITION FOR BOTH MODERNISING THE TRADITIONAL ART OF DÉCOUPAGE AND REDEFINING CONVENTIONAL PLACEMATS. BOLD, DECORATIVE AND MORE THAN JUST SIMPLE TABLEWARE, THEY CELEBRATED THE TIMELESS RITUAL OF GATHERING AT THE TABLE, SHARING FOOD AND EXCHANGING CONVERSATION.
TAMARA’S LATEST WORK CONTINUES TO CENTRE ON VARIATIONS OF UNIVERSAL CONNECTION, A CONTRAST TO THE GROWING SENSE OF ISOLATION AND DISCONNECTION IN TODAY’S WORLD. HER THREE-DIMENSIONAL LAYERED PAPER COMPOSITIONS, DEFINED BY SHAPE, COLOUR AND HARMONY ARE ENCASED IN ACRYLIC TRAYS. EACH HANDMADE PIECE IS ONE-OF-A-KIND.
INFLUENCED BY ARTISTS SUCH AS FRANK STELLA, JOSEF ALBERS AND LOUISE NEVELSON, HER STATEMENT DESIGNS ARE BOTH FUNCTIONAL AND SCULPTURAL. DESIGNED TO BE USED AS TRAYS OR WALL ART, HER PIECES ARE VISUALLY COMPELLING, PRACTICAL AND UNIQUE.
TAMARA WAS BORN IN HAMBURG AND GREW UP IN NEW YORK, PARIS, AND LONDON, WHERE SHE LIVES.
