One of my favourite parts of studying Interior Architecture was making models out of paper and cardboard. Paper is this incredible material that sits there patiently, all plain and white, innocent even, taunting you to grab it and transform it. It is one of few materials that is fairly inexpensive, readily available to all and, most importantly, it let's you express yourself in so many ways; through drawing and painting it, ripping it, through crushing it or delicately folding it. I find that it is as though a character already lives within the paper and simply waits until we release it, bringing to life what the paper was always meant to be.
With that in mind, it may not come as a total surprise that I am very much in awe of the work of Matthew Shlian. He is an amazing paper engineer who's work is rooted in print media, book arts and commercial design. The pictures I've included here range from projects across 2013 and 2014.
What was extremely interesting to discover was the artist's own take on the work that he does, and even more so, his collaboration with science. With a select group of scientists, Matt works on the nanoscale, translating paper structures to micro folds. Their joint investigations extend to visualising cellular division and solar cell development. I mean, WOW! What an inspiring and different angle to perceive paper art from. Matt further explains that Researchers see paper engineering as a metaphor for scientific principals, while he sees their inquiry as basis for artistic inspiration.'
Over and above the collaboration with science, the paper sculptures are simply divine to look at. There is such harmony and peacefulness in their perfect geometry. The fact that the paper sculptures are in one colour, means that you have all the time in the world to lose yourself in the texture of the folds, the search for the repeating pattern, the play of light and shadow. To find out more about the featured projects and discover more of Matt's work, you can visit his website here.
Source - mattshlian.com
Images - mattshlian.com
More on Matt Shlian via his blog - mattshlian.blogspot.com
Related Nest of Pearls post - Paper pearls
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