Tea (2024) revisits and expands upon Tea (2012) by repeating the process of making as many family portraits as possible within the waking hours of April 25th, 12 years later to the day. The original project involved photographing four generations of the artist Steven Rhall's family, with each individual seated where they eat their evening meal. This project explored the fluidity of family as a concept beyond commonly celebrated models and presented an iteration of family, where displayed together in a gallery context, created a virtual family dinner including a gathering of individuals who have never met in real life.
The 2024 iteration incorporates a broader array of individuals and locations, reflecting on how families can serve as dynamic frameworks. By adhering to the same 24-hour window, Tea (2024) captures the evolution of ‘family’ over twelve years, introducing elements of time, aging, and loss. The project underscores that family is not a fixed entity but a collection of varying relationships, perspectives and values; themes will be explored further using additional framing devices within the installation at Bargoonga Nganjin Library.