Assignment 4

Papercraft Research

The popular form of paper art

Illuminated Cut Paper Light Boxes by Hari & Deepti

Hari & Deepti, aka Deepti Nair and Harikrishnan Panicker, are Colorado-based artist and create amazing, intricate dioramas cut from stiff watercolor paper, which are then illuminated from the back. Inspired by Balinese shadow puppets, they layer cut paper from the foreground to the back to ensure each layer builds on the one before it to create depth and shadow. They have always been drawn towards the imaginative aspect of storytelling.  They believe that “Paper is brutal in its simplicity as a medium. It demands the attention of the artist while it provides the softness they need to mold it in to something beautiful. It is playful, light, colorless and colorful. It is minimal and intricate. It reflects light, creates depth and illusions in a way that it takes the artist through a journey with limitless possibilities.”

They started experimenting with paper cut shadow boxes in 2010 with hand painted watercolor paper which was then cut and assembled in a wooden box to create a diorama, with years of practice their art became more intricate and minimal at the same time. They started experimenting with lights and simplified their pieces by losing the colored aspect of the paper. They have since then evolved to add their own style of paper cut art incorporating back-lit light boxes using flexible LED strip lights. Then they put their layered cut paper sculptures into a shadow box and illuminates the scene with small LED strips. The result is magical-looking illuminated scenes from another world. 

One of the reasons, I chose Hari & Deepti for my papercraft research is the aspect around how their work tells a story  and the simplicity with which it talks to the audience.  Their stories mostly reflect man animal conflicts, local folklore or mankind early attempts at early dominance.  One other interesting observation is how they center the character and then use depth to tell time and distance.  The usage of light to highlight or provide contrast to the characters in the image box.  The contrasting nature of the box in the lit and unlit state also has an effect on the viewers.

Reference:

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/03/illuminated-cut-paper-light-boxes-by-hari-deepti/

http://www.blackbookgallery.com/artists/hari-deepti/