Eugenia Loli’s sharp collages

A collage is always created with already existing images that once assembled together conjure up new and unexpected ways of interpreting them. But it is a process less straightforward and immediate than one can think. One only has to stop in front of Eugenia Loli‘s body of work to see how collage can become a Pandora’s box, from where an endless flow of ever-changing meanings and associations is released.

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Of leaves, marker drawings and paper dolls: Tang Chiew Ling

To stumble upon Tang Chiew Ling graceful art is almost a case of serendipity for me, because a few things that recently attracted me combine harmoniously in her work – specifically what an artist can do with leaves (see the work by Hillary Fayle), make up with a few marks on a white background (see the work by Rafael Mantesso)  and some miniaturized paper dolls (see the work by Jorge Miranda).

Jorge Miranda – A filmaker’s secret dream

One could guess that a filmaker’s secret dream would be to make his actors perform the most bizarre, improbable and dangerous tasks in the most unlikely and unusual set. Miami-based Jorge Miranda found a viable solution to make this dream come true, at least in part. The result is an incredibly amusing display of surreal sketches.

Paper and other media: Kristi Malakoff

As an artistic medium, paper is doing very well. Canadian Kristi Malakoff stands out among the artists that have chosen it, thanks to the versatility of her skills. 

Carlos Meira’s paper bas-reliefs

In the hands of Brazilian Carlos Meira, paper is not confined to the role of support for artistic expression. With ever-surpring results, Meira‘s mastery assigns to paper the main role in his artistic practice:

Designer and art director in the advertising industry, Meira also developed his creative energies through learning paper sculpture with amazing results. Paper is an amazing medium, incredibly versatile and extremely fragile at the same time. Meira‘s art turns the basic flatness of a paper sheet into lively colourful  bas-reliefs. It takes extreme patience to craft paper in this way. The process consists in drawing, colouring the paper, marking it, cutting it and shaping it before the final assemblage. Loving, patient and gentle gestures are the vital ingredients that Meira masters with slow and precise movements of his hands and fingers. Surprisingly for such excellent results, Meira is essentially self-taught in the art of paper sculpture, an art to which he has started devoting more and more time after returning from Portugal to Brazil in the 1990s. And his visual universe is animated with the imagery and ravishing colours of his homeland, from the Carnival costumes to the luxuriant flora and fauna populating his art. You can find more of Carlos Meira‘s paper sculptures on his website, Behance page and blog.

Images courtesy of Carlos Meira.

(via Living Design)

The magic art of paper marbling

Through a video by Turkish filmaker Oguz Uygur I discovered Ebru (the art of paper marbling), the magic of which is in its making…

With this video, Oguz Uygur celebrates his parents’ amazing craft in creating paper marbling. The shots concentrate on the slow and delicate gestures required for creating richly delicate images, the effect in the background resembling the organic streaks in marble. But the wonder that this ancient form of art holds fully reveals itself in the process of making. The inks are skilfully applied in a shallow tray with water. The colours gently float and spread on the surface, while the hand of the artist wisely shape the inks into patterns and shapes, with a perfect balance between evanescence and thickness. With the help of ink brushes, combs and other tools (some Ebru artists even resort to human hair), the ink blots are gently and almost impalpably manipulated. These thorough and minute gestures suggest an artistry acquired with patience and discipline, but filled with meditative grace. (via The Atlantic)