MAROULA LAMBIS

I began making these works to bring attention to Marie van Goethem who modelled for Degas's sculpture La Petite Danseuse de quatorze ans.

The pieces are titled after her so that she may be brought into the work in her own right, and not merely as Degas' Little Dancer.

The duality in the piece of sculpture/shadow, image/thread, recto/verso, echoes her life as a ballerina of the Paris Opera Ballet. During the 1800s impoverished girls Marie’s age entered ballet school to earn a wage and contribute to the family income. Overworked and underpaid their bodies belonged to the stage, and behind the scenes to their Protectors - wealthy older men who took them on as courtesans.

My intention with these works as an intersectional feminist is to spotlight Women's Rights and the abuse of power against women and their bodies. The gains that have been achieved towards Womens Equality continue to be heavily outweighed by the many injustices that continue to this day.

Maroula Lambis is a self-taught South African artist currently residing in Cape Town.

Her contemplative aesthetic draws deeply from experience within the realms of womanhood, melancholy and isolation. Working with photography, she incorporates collage and embroidery into her practise. She is mentored by Through the Lens Collective and presented at Latitudes who recognised her as an Artist to Follow in January 2022. 

Maroula has participated in group exhibitions in the UK, South Africa, and online.

@maroula.lambis