Artwork: Essential workers 2021
Artist: Waratah Lahy
Medium: water colour on paper
Dimensions: Vial 28.5 x 21.5cm; Front line 36 x 26cm; Drawing up the vaccine 21 x 14.5cm
Acquisition: An acquisition of the ACT Legislative Assembly Art Advisory Committee, 2023
Asset no: OLA002829
About the Work
These works are characteristic of Waratah Lahy’s meticulous style, and her acute observations of life around her in Canberra. They reflect on the year of 2021, when so many external dramatic factors affected our lives. That year Canberra Health Services commissioned Lahy to record the medical environment and staff working under extreme circumstances during the lockdown for COVID 19. Of particular interest to this group of works, is the little known story of how the CHS Vaccination Team trialled new, ultra-low dead space syringes that allowed them to get 7 vaccinations from each phial, not 6; a method subsequently adopted internationally. Visiting the AIS Vaccination Centre as this extraordinary achievement was unfolding, Lahy captured the skilful hands and dedicated hearts of the frontline healthcare workers.
About the Artist
Waratah Lahy is a Canberra-based artist whose work has been recognized by awards and scholarships since graduating from the Australian National University School of Art with Honours in Visual Arts and the University Medal in 1999; later Doctor of Philosophy (Visual Arts), School of Art, Australian National University, 2007.