Seeing Paper
2005
Seeing Paper was the first series of three-dimensional textiles produced in relation to the doctoral dissertation: Paperness: Expressive Material in Textile Art from an Artist’s Viewpoint. The art series explored the influence of different physical qualities of paper string on the creative process. It also examined the expressive qualities of the artworks as influenced by their materials. The set of three types of paper string was used together with two knotting techniques to construct two series, each consisting of three pieces. In each series, colour, technique and mould were fixed factors, whereas the material factor was variable.
The concept of Seeing Paper showed that a material metaphorically lives in this world. This notion originated from the argument that a material possesses specific expressive potential. I developed the idea of creating my artefacts in a form of female dress-like sculptures, as a metaphor for human beings (women). I used the metaphor for female humans to convey the idea that although the forms and structures were analogous, the particular character of each individual was expressed through the material. To represent different female persons, differing kinds of paper string were expected to embody the meaning of different human personalities and temperaments.
Seeing Paper won Silver Bobbin Prize in the 12th International Lace Biennial – Contemporary Art, Queen Fabiola’s Grand Prix in 2006 in Brussels, Belgium, and received Prize of the Public in this event’s touring exhibitions in Heidelberg, Germany and St. Gallen, Switzerland in 2007 and 2008 respectively.
The series has been exhibited internationally in the following exhibitions:
(1) “(Wo)man and Environment”, Craft Ontario, Toronto, Canada, August 2020 (solo exhibition, see)
(2) “Everyday Creativity”, Berkeley Art Museum, Berkeley, California, USA, October 2009
(3) “12th International Lace Biennial – Contemporary Art”, Textilmuseum, St. Gallen, Switzerland, January–March 2008, Museum of Decorative Art and Design, Riga, Latvia, October 2007-January 2008, Musée Jean Lurçat et de la tapisserie contemporaine, Angers, France, June- October 2007, Textilsammlung Max Berk, Heidelberg, Germany, February–May 2007, Tour & Taxis, Brussels, Belgium, November 2006-January 2007
(4) “Hands and All”, 7th Finnish Textiles Triennial, Amos Anderson Art Museum, Helsinki, Finland, June-August 2006
(5) “Scythia 6”, 6th International Biennial on Contemporary Textile Art, Kherson, Ukraine, June 2006
(6) “Celebrations!”, Gallery Norsu, Helsinki, Finland, May–June 2006
(7) “Hiljaisuus” (Silence), Handicrafts and Industrial Arts Centre Verkaranta, Tampere, Finland, November-December 2005
(8) “Textile05”, International Kaunas Art Biennial, M. K.Ciurlionis National Museum of Art, Kaunas, Lithuania, November–December 2005
(9) “Soft Bits”, Tuusula Cultural Centre, Tuusula, Finland, August 2005
(10) “Seeing Paper”, Gallery Visu, Kokkola, Finland, August 2006, Gallery Johan S., Helsinki, Finland, May–June 2005 (solo exhibitions)
LIST OF ARTEFACTS
PERSONAL JOY, 2005
media: paper string, knotting
dimensions: 40cm x 36cm x 100cm
PRIVATE GARDEN, 2005
media: paper string, knotting
dimensions: 40cm x 36cm x 100cm
PRIVATE AREA, 2005
media: paper string, knotting
dimensions: 40cm x 36cm x 100cm
BREATHE EASILY, 2007
media: paper string, knotting
dimensions: 40cm x 36cm x 130cm
GET SORTED, 2005
media: paper string, knotting
dimensions: 40cm x 36cm x 90cm
LET GO, 2005
media: paper string, knotting
dimensions: 40cm x 36cm x 100cm
