volume 12, number 1, 2017
About the cover artwork
Anne Buckingham, Reading the leaves, 2016, used books, glue, 1000 × 500 × 500mm.
Artist statement
Reading the leaves is inspired by the term ‘bibliotherapy’, which loosely describes the reading of books as therapy. Pages, or leaves, from used books were cut into snippets and re-formed into cups, saucers, plates, teaspoons, a sugar bowl and a teapot, which were then laid out for a tea party. The intention was to consider some of the elements needed for our well-being: nourishment, connection with others, time to ‘be’, and creativity. The use of recycled self-help books – like the connection to the divination traditions of tea – emphasises the seeking of answers, and questions how we choose or discard information from the vast amount available. The bringing together of the dissected parts reflects the therapeutic process – the delicate handling, containment and strength in the re-forming.
About the artist
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BA(Hons) Psych, MA OrgDev, MAT, AThR
Anne is an art therapist and sandplay therapist working in independent practice in Sydney with a wide variety of children, young people and adults, both individually and in groups. This includes those living with mental illness, complex trauma, vicarious trauma, disability, eating disorders, dementia, and others. She also facilitates workshops with community groups and organisations. Anne brings her qualifications in psychology and organisational development to her work as a therapist and supervisor, with a particular interest in supervision and development of art therapists in their early careers. Her art is informed by her therapeutic and reflective practice. As an exhibiting artist, Anne explores the connection between audience, art and artist in the exhibition space and its relationship to client, art and therapist in the therapeutic space.