These Cut Rice Paper Sculptures Are Like Nothing You've Ever Seen Before
by N/A, 9 years ago |
3 min read
And I thought making snowflakes was hard...
Bovey Lee is a Los Angeles-based artist who does some of the most mind-blowing work I've ever seen.
The Acrobat
In 2005, her father introduced her to Chinese paper cutting and she has been making intricate works ever since.
The Acrobat
Lee holds a MFA in both painting and computer graphics which influence her artistic process.
Plum Blossom-Rebar
The images are created on the computer, and then hand cut without stencil or ruler.
The Tightrope Walker
She uses only a cutting mat, X-acto knife, staples, clips, and paperweights to create each piece from xuan (rice) paper.
The Tightrope Walker
Historically, paper cutting is a traditional Chinese art form and Lee embraces her own Chinese heritage with her work, thematically and in process.
Ring- The Fog Lifter
She says she was drawn to the art form partially because of her extensive childhood training in calligraphy which was often done on the same rice paper medium.
Outgrow - Soybean
Much of her recent work has been inspired by her move from the East to West Coast and the drastic effects of urbanism on nature.
Outgrow - Soybean
The traditional art form has been making a resurgence lately, which excites Lee.
Flower Knot - The Sun Archer
"Paper is a material that everyone understands and uses," she theorized as to why the art form is becoming popular again.
Flower Knot - The Sun Archer
But it's definitely not for the impatient; the beautiful intricacy of the works is extremely time consuming.
Grounded
Lee enjoys it, however: "The physical and mental demand from cutting is extreme and thrilling, slows me down and allows me to think clearly and decisively."
Grounded
✕
Do not show me this again