Beautiful Paper Hanging Cuts

I recently saw this piece at Top Arts at the NGV. I thought they were absolutely beautiful. The way they hang quite still, moving softly in the air, simply strung by cotton. The shadows they cast on the wall was the most amazing thing. The cuts of the faces and expressions was the most interesting, and so intricate. The artist, however, did not overdo the exhibit. Because each piece is so complex within itself, it works perfectly to just hang the images very simply. The pieces hang so flat, and as they slowly rotate and you see them as 2D pieces, you see their fragility.

I would like to hang my dancing girl because I think that hanging these delicate paper cuts accentuates their fragile nature, and really enhances their qualities as delicate and flimsy paper forms. As I was trying to picture ways to display the dancer (pictured below) I found the best way was to hang her, as she is such a light and airborne form...she is jumping through the air, so it makes sense for her to be strung up on string.

Because I am so happy with the intricate shape of the dancer I decided not to complicate my piece. I have decided to cut out the exact same image many times, but in four different sizes, starting at only a few centimetres. I will hang the smallest pieces at the top, and hang the larger in graduating tiers downwards, and less as they get larger, until there is only one big one at the bottom. Because this shape is so fine, I think that it will be hard to tell what the shape even is when there are many of them hanging together and very small. By doing this I am interested to see the effect of the paper as delicate yet ambiguous shapes.

All of this will be hung in a structure that is reminiscent of a lamp, inspired by my research into paper lanterns.

I hope the dancers will hang delicately and make for an interesting feature.

Hanging Paper

These paper hanging people are a little too stiff for my liking. Paper should hang delicately! Moving slightly with the air...

Paper lanterns

The paper lantern - such a simple shape but so beautiful hanging. I am going to make a more complex design (probably simpler construction) inspired by a paper lantern. Paper is such an interesting way to capture light, and so my design may not function as an actual lantern, but will be reminiscent of one.