A collection of eleven paintings created as a partial fulfilment of my MVA dissertation. This project received The Highly Commended Master of Visual Arts award.

‘Tea?’ is a practice-led research project making a plea for a return to real-life social interactions. I employ the thought-provoking, diaristic and archival characteristics of still life to address the sociocultural anthropological effects and contemporary challenges of digital communication.

Digital communication is the new normal. It is disjointed and requires reduced engagement compared to meeting in person, which can lead to increased social isolation and loneliness; both are detrimental to physical and mental health.

Therefore, Tea? is designed to foreground an alternative, healthier and emotionally fulfilling experience of in-person communication. I employ era-specific archival objects to connect emotionally with the audience and evoke memories of real-life social interactions.

These artefacts link me, the artist, to the work through their diaristic connections, appealing to a wide age range of viewers and expanding the series’ reach and influence. The still-life characteristics of this body of work, and the widespread social habit of tea consumption, evoke positive memories of real-life communication.

​I hope you enjoy my latest works.