On Paper: New Paper Art - Softcover

Thomas, Jane; Jackson, Paul

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1858941458 ISBN 13: 9781858941455

Publisher: Merrell Pub Ltd, 2001

Synopsis

Paper is one of the most versatile of all media. We can all relate to the simple pleasure of crumpling paper in the palm of the hand, if only to toss it into the waste-paper basket. Whether folded, cut, or molded as pulp, its rôle need not be restricted to that of support for other media. However, until the mid-twentieth century such techniques as papier mâché and origami were accorded the status of little more than curiosities, certainly not to be regarded as vehicles for serious creative endeavor. Attitudes changed after artists of the standing of Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque began to explore the nature of paper, taking it from the flatness of collage toward the three-dimensionality of sculpture. Over the last fifty years, a growing number of practitioners from disciplines as diverse as textiles, ceramics, sculpture, painting, and design have used paper as their principal material. On Paper explores the development and recognition of paper as a medium of expression, combining personal recollection with historical overview, and comprehensively illustrated with a whole range of the different creative uses to which paper has been put by artists from all over the world.

About this title

Review

A hip-looking couple in paper suits, bold blocks of yellow and white, and a flat sky-blue background on the cover of On Paper make it seem more like a contemporary art catalogthan a book made to accompany an exhibition at the Crafts Council in London. From designer Tetsuji Kawamura's minimalist lamps, made from cut and constructed white paper sheets, to artist Andrea Stanley's molded and formed newspaper vessels, the book presents a wide array of objects, including sculptures, clothing, jewelry, wall hangings, baskets, and books. For experienced artists interested in incorporating paper into their work, this is a rich source of themes, concepts, and methods; for beginners in the medium, a glossary and list of resources by country make this book a great place to start; but those expecting an avant-garde showcase of gallery art may have to look elsewhere. --Juliette Cezzar

About the Author

Jane Thomas is Exhibitions Officer at the Crafts Council, London. Paul Jackson is an origami artist residing in Israel. His work is based on organic form and the mathematics of nature.

About this edition

• Publisher: Merrell Pub Ltd
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 1858941458
• ISBN 13: 9781858941455
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 128