Thursday 7 November 2013

The softest of beauties, by Peter Gentenaar

Nest of Pearls - Paper sculptures by Peter Gentenaar

This incredibly inspiring installation work by Dutch paper sculptor Peter Gentenaar dates back to 2009, but I certainly don't love it any less now then I did then. Not having had my blog then, I really wanted to capture this work on my blog, and so here I am, delving into this beautiful exploration of soft colours and textures, immersed into the most unlikely of enigmatic worlds.

The setting is the Abbey of Saint-Riquier in France, where more than one hundred of Peter Gentenaar's pristine paper sculptures were hung and poised ever so carefully, and depicted as sensual, silk-like objects. The installation is very appropriately named 'Mystère de papier' (Paper's mystery).

The fragility of the paper sculptures against the solid, historically firm arches and walls of the Abbey is so well captured in this selection of shots. What sings out, furthermore, is not only the juxtaposition of texture, but also the pastel colour palette of the sculptures against the grey, almost mysteriously ominous, interior of the Abbey. The size of the installations is also oh-so grandiose. The artist did not shy away from giving each piece its rightful presence, and this is further enhanced by the choice to hang the paper sculptures low, where the interaction with the user of the space is that much more confronting.

In describing his paper sculptures, which are reinforced with thin bamboo ribs, Peter Gentenaar likens them to that of paper leafs. And it is this exact lightness that they exude as they hang within the great Abbey of worship. One can almost hear a very soft wind rustling through each of the paper folds...

Nest of Pearls - Paper sculptures by Peter Gentenaar

Nest of Pearls - Paper sculptures by Peter Gentenaar

Nest of Pearls - Paper sculptures by Peter Gentenaar

Nest of Pearls - Paper sculptures by Peter Gentenaar

Nest of Pearls - Paper sculptures by Peter Gentenaar

Nest of Pearls - Paper sculptures by Peter Gentenaar

Nest of Pearls - Paper sculptures by Peter Gentenaar

Nest of Pearls - Paper sculptures by Peter Gentenaar

Nest of Pearls - Paper sculptures by Peter Gentenaar

Nest of Pearls - Paper sculptures by Peter Gentenaar

Nest of Pearls - Paper sculptures by Peter Gentenaar

First spotted on - pinterest via pinner stylingsinja
Source - peter gentenaar via uponafold
Images courtesy of - uponafold

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