Matt Shlian's paper masterpieces will take your breath away...

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

A touch of magic

Maria Kristofersson must be a magician when it comes to pottery and sculpture. The Swedish designer's pieces are all so tantalisingly unique, funky and rugged, all while possessing a definite gentleness and humility.

Upon a closer peek at the execution of the beautifully rendered designs there is no doubt that the devil is in the detail... the 'never-quite-straight' edges, the nonchalantly applied paint, and the unperfected outer surfaces married with finite and delicately perfected patterns hidden inside. There is a definite childlike playfulness that gives a light air of fun to Maria Kristofersson's work, a sign of an emancipated creativity that is not afraid to push the boundaries and veer away from the norm.

Source - maria kristofersson

Beautiful madness

Mitsugu Sato is a Japanese artist whose unmissable work I came across via a very cool 'pinner' I like to follow on Pinterest. As I scrolled through what was already a very sophisticated selection of imagery depicting art, design and edgy interiors, Sato's work just jumped out at me. I had to have more!

All I had was his name and a couple of images of his work, and despite this I had some trouble finding the information I longed for. I did, eventually come across the Skky.info website, it's one that promotes local artists. I believe it's in Japanese, therefore I understand nothing at all, but I did find what I was looking for, more of Sato's succulent work.

The pieces are simply magic. The detail and the depth with which each one is constructed is incredible. They exude a fragile beauty, despite their industrial origin and the hard and rough materials that make up their skeletons. What's more, there's a real exploration of tension, balance and symmetry... thin strings madly grasping heavy, rusty bolts... tired pieces of wood out of which protrude unforgiving wire frames...

Each piece seems to hold its own story, one of heaviness, a past life, and a sort of melancholy... the last stance, however, is one of piece and quiet beauty...

Source - skky.info

Sculpture born from a marriage of forms

I chose this post because when I laid eyes on Nicole Cherubini's work I was immediately drawn to it. Then as I was studying it and contemplating what I liked about it, I wasn't sure anymore what exactly I wanted to say about it. Then I bumbled over it further and could absolutely not go without posting it, so then I decided I did like it, I liked it very much, there was definitely something magnetic that I couldn't let go of.

But decide for yourself. Below is a selection of her work that has graced exhibitions across the US, notably in NYC. I personally love the colour, the daring use of rich colour at that, as well as the splashes and drips of paint as though the touch was a mere accident. Then there are forms and shapes that I can't quite make out, nor relate to, compositions that I like overall but find the execution not quite refined, my emotions are not played on... But then, so what?! Did Nicole aim for refined? Probably not. But what her work does embody is a confident presence, a true impact, it's edgy, bold and has a distinct & unique presence.

Source - Nicole Cherubini

For more great art, ranging from crazy, edgy, colourful, through to minimalistic, do swing by my Pinterest.