BOX is an exhibition showcasing Max Lamb’s latest collection made from cardboard at Gallery FUMI. Lamb is a London-based artist who blends his interests in art, anthropology, materiality, and improvisation to create unique pieces of craft. Lamb’s work is a reflection of his childhood spent outdoors on his grandfather’s farm in Yorkshire and his adventures in Cornwall. His curiosity and creative spirit were nurtured by these experiences, as he learned to handle raw and industrial materials and problem solve. Inspired by his interest in sustainability, Lamb aimed to give scrap material another value. He used unbleached cardboard tubes, high-quality corrugated cardboard, and every day delivery boxes that he accumulated over time from museum loans and various workshop projects.
He used cutting, scoring, folding, crushing, and reassembling with bolts, screws, paper gum tape, and a homemade wheat-based glue (flour and water) to assemble volumes of cardboard into forms that resemble the structural integrity of rock or wood yet retain evidence of the making. Although achieving durability whilst preserving the material’s personality was challenging, Lamb successfully elevated the work from raw materials to design pieces. Resulting in functional, beautiful, and sustainable furniture. Lamb has been a collaborator and friend of Gallery FUMI for over 15 years, gallery co-founder Valerio Capo 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.”