Project Recap No. 1 - PaperCuts...

A detail from tri-colour 'Red' series PaperCut

We though it might be in order to provide somewhat of a recap of some of our existing projects which previously have been mentioned, but usually within the context of an event or exhibition. Here they are summarized as a single entity. This initial Project Recap is of the PaperCuts Design(s).

PaperCuts

The Papercut Collection are a (still ongoing) attempt to fuse the more tactile (hands-on) crafts to those using computers. Three main stages are involved in their realization - 2D digital design, laser-cutting, and assembly. The initial stage involves the making, usually through a CAD (Computer Aided Design) programme, of the initial cutting pattern. As the laser cutter can be very accurate and precise in its cutting the patterns can, if one wishes, be very intricate (depending partly on which material one decides to cut the pattern out of). In the second phase the CAD designed pattern is cut out of different types of paper or canvas. The final stage involves the assembly of the cut paper or canvas sheets into more layered or volumetric compositions. Each of the three stages is dependent and influenced by the other phases, and need to be simultaneously considered in the overall design. What they all also have in common is an attempt to use some of the particular qualities of the processes involved - properties that are unique to cutting something by laser or folding (and weaving, and assembling a design by hand - in the eventual outcome. This might entail using the burnishing marks from the laser-cutting process as key features in a design; or 'playing' with the focusing of the laser-beam to produce a variety of different types of cutting lines. More of these types of 'interventions' are included and described in the captions of the images below.

Above and below, samples from the PaperCuts 'Gray' series...

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Some pieces from the 'White' series...

In this PaperCut the paper was crumpled-up before the, in this instance simple grid-pattern, of crosses was cut out. As the laser has a set focal length anything too close to the laser's tip will get burnished, resulting in a wider (and more burnt) cut. When the paper was re-flattened the variation of the paper-sheet's uneveness is still apparent...

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The 'Black' series...

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A CanvasCut...

The PaperCuts have been exhibited at the Asia House (London), nous Gallery (London), la fontaine Contemporary Art Centre (Bahrain), and Dar Al-Funoon (Kuwait).

The individuals involved in the design and making of the pieces were: Maysaa Al-Mumin, Paul Brady, Miguel Fonseca, Eisuke Kumagi, Carolyn Garden, and Thomas Modeen.