There's a renaissance underway in the art form of cut paper, with an explosion of raw talent and an abundance of amazing work produced in the medium in recent years. This gorgeous volume features work from 26 contemporary international artists who are creating images of astonishing intricacy, using little more than paper and blade. Featuring a host of new discoveries and including art by such stars as Nikki McClure, Rob Ryan, and Thomas Allen, as well as a number of emerging practitioners, Paper Cutting is sure to engage art buffs and indie crafters alike. An in-depth introduction by paper art expert Natalie Avella illuminates the rich history of the centuries-old form, and a whimsical preface by beloved artist Rob Ryan rounds out this delightful collection.
This is a great book. A strong introductory essay about the history of paper cutting, good biographies of the artists included in the book and their practice and fantastic, clear, colour photographs of examples of their work. Very inspiring and extremely beautiful.
• Peter Callesen: almost exclusively white paper - objects, cuttings , installations, performances
• Su Blackwell: https://www.sublackwell.co.uk/ altering books, alternation of fairy tales (2003) eg: Alice Mad Tea Party (2007), intricate diorama that is carved straight from the book and lifted up including texts (not a pop-up). Some of book-sculpture includes tiny lights inside the house like a tiny diorama. "I often work within the realm of fairy-tales and folk-lore. I began making a series of book-sculpture, cutting-out images from old books to create three-dimensional diorama’s, and displaying them inside wooden boxes”.
• Rob Ryan: http://robryanstudio.com/ papercutting, stripped down as much as possible, one colour, one piece of paper, simplicity, intricate papercutting his work is about sadness, being along, longing for love. in a way it is reassuring
• Beatrice Coron: sillhouette, cityscape memoreis association of words, thoughts/juxtapposition invented landscape - have its own logic and patterns
• Mia Perlman large site specific cut paper installation spatial idmensions, sculptural waves, organic forms, ephemeral weather systems process is intuitive, based on spontaneous decisions in the moment held together by paperclips, map tacks
A well-designed book including high quality photos and quite a number of artists, however, excluding the contemporary examples from the Eastern paper cutting (aka kati’, paper filigree, fine paper engraving, etc.) traditions which is the historical basis of this art. Hence 3 stars.
I was captivated by every artwork in this book and moved by the stories behind them. Each piece was deeply personal, beautifully reflecting the artist's soul. Truly inspiring!
There are paper cutting traditions in both China and Japan that go back centuries. This work gives a very brief overview of the history in the introductory essay by Natalie Avella, then presents a compilation of work by 26 contemporary paper cutting artists from around the world.
Several Japanese artists are included. Kako Ueda (b.1966) makes fluid, complex designs with a sinister edge - a spider or a skull might be hidden in the tracery. In a similar vein, Hina Aoyama (b.1970) creates very intricate, detailed designs using a pair of scissors. Her images verge on the fantastical or surreal, with abundant floral elements.
Yuken Teruya (b.1973) uses everyday objects to create his artworks: cardboard toilet rolls are adapted to create a forest of miniature trees, and a paper bag from MacDonald's is cut to make a tree with snowy white leaves. His work has a more political flavour, speaking to the depletion of the earth's resources.
Of the many stunning artworks featured here, I think my favourites were by Yulia Brodskaya (Russian, b.1983) who uses a quilling technique, and Molly Jey (Swiss, b.1978) who makes landscapes inspired by nature - her white paper forest scenes took my breath away.
It's four years since the book was published, so I imagine it doesn't show the freshest, most up-to-date works by these artists, but there is certainly plenty here to enjoy and to marvel over.
Think paper art is limited to Origami, or silhouettes? This book will make you think again. I was blown away by the creativity of these contemporary paper artists. The unbelievable imagination and craft exhibited in this book is breathtaking...and all made with nothing more than paper and a blade. These artists push the boundaries of paper art, and anyone with a creative side (or not) will be inspired by these pages. If you are like me, and feel a little daunted by some other art processes, I think you will enjoy this book.
I found this book after stumbling on the art of Su Blackwell in a magazine. I am just awestruck by this collection of rolled, cut, and torn paper, tiny and massive, intricate and inventive, whimsical and architectural. Thanks to this book I have 25 other artists to seek out and drool over.
Between the spine and the pages of paper that make up this book are enclosed some of the most beautiful and striking works of art I've ever seen, in any medium. I'd love it if Chronicle Books came out with an entire series with a book dedicated to each of these artists.
One of the more amazing books I have seen in awhile...everyone I showed it to just gasped as well. The artistry is breathtaking; the intricacy of the work is astounding.
No patterns. Just artists work and bios. Not what I was looking for at all and not what was represented in the description for product. Very disappointed.