PaperCraft: Research

 

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/02/new-flexible-paper-sculptures-by-li-hongbo/

    Li Hong Bo is an artist that specializes in completely recreating one of the most ancient mediums known, paper. By plying thousands of sheets together in a honeycomb like pattern vertically, she creates 3-dimensional sculptures.  These sculptures, because of their construction are very flimsy and wavy much like a slinky. This strange and wonky quality juxtaposes the often traditional style sculptures he creates in a quite unique way. 

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/02/new-flexible-paper-sculptures-by-li-hongbo/

    Li Hong Bo found direct inspiration from traditional "paper gourds", which had been around in China for quite some time. 

http://schs-art.weebly.com/muira-ori-paper-folding.html

    This video explains exactly how he found inspiration and sheds a light on the process involved when Li Hong Bo makes his creations.

    This combination of traditional methods to create a completely non traditional medium is in some ways similar to remix culture. Using similar folds to those of traditional cultural paper decorations to create his block, and then sculpting and chiseling away at it like a renaissance sculpture. This creates an entirely new product that which holds the 3D form of a sculpture, with the pliability of paper.

    

    The art of Li Hong Bo has opened my mind to more questions than answers, but in the best way possible. What happens when two totally unrelated mediums are related? And what new directions can they be taken in when they come together? Especially with the rise of the golden digital era, there are many new possibilities that come from expanding upon and combining well known mediums.