Butterflies Trying to Escape Their Shadow, 2005
Acid-free A4 80 gsm paper and glue
About my paper works
My paper works have been based around an exploration of the relationship between two and three dimensionality. I find this materialization of a flat piece of paper into a 3D form almost a magic process – or maybe one could call it obvious magic, because the process is obvious and the figures still stick to their origin, without the possibility of escaping. In that sense there is also an aspect of something tragic in most of the cuts. Some of the small paper cuts relate to a universe of fairy tales and romanticism, as for instance Impenetrable Castle inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Steadfast Tin Soldier, in which a tin soldier falls in love with a paper ballerina, living in a paper castle. Other paper cuts are small dramas in which small figures are lost within and threatened by the huge powerful nature. Others again are turning the inside out, or letting the front and the back of the paper meet – dealing with impossibility, illusions, and reflections.
I find the A4 sheet of paper interesting to work with, because it is probably the most common and consumed media and format for carrying information today, and in that sense it is something very loaded. This means that we rarely notice the actual materiality of the A4 paper. By removing all the information and starting from scratch using the blank white 80gsm A4 paper as a base for my creations, I feel that I have found a material which we all are able to relate to, and at the same time is non-loaded and neutral and therefore easier to fill with different meanings. The thin white paper also gives the paper sculptures a fragility which underlines the tragic and romantic theme of the works.
www.petercallesen.com/index/A4PAPERCUT_000.htm
BADASS.
The skeletons and buildings are just insane. Also the one skeleton that is looking at the human cut out while sitting on a chair, notice how the cut out of the chair looks like the proper shadow for the chair. So brilliant and precise. Most inspirational work I’ve seen this year.
I think that one is my favorite. I see it as an expression of the consideration of human potential, we may start out as just bare bones, but we can grow, be fleshed out, but its a delicate process that requires consideration.
I also like the last one as well. I like how you use the negative space to represent the shadows of the future.
Now excuse me, I have to go do calculus before the analytical side of my brain completely shuts down from all this artsy crap.
After seeing entirely too many artists who seem to think good art is photographing a hot girl in sexy, revealing (possibly bizarre) clothing doing something random and evocative (like the coke whore and suspended gal and such seen recently here), it is very nice to come across an artist who actually has a real meaning to- and idea behind- their work. Props to you sir!
oh wow, that birdcage has an angel in it
Fucking AWESOME!!!
…………..damm…
yep it’s awesome
wow, these are amazing 🙂
Best thing I’ve seen in a long time on here.
wow…cool…interesting…intereSPIDER FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU KILL IT WITH FIRE!
I know, completely crazy isn’t it? It is easily some of the hardest to make, most vision inspired art I have come across in a long time. Check out his site for more.