For our next project the class is doing paper-craft models that are started in Rhino, unfolded, printed and assembled physically! In scholarly fashion I have to do some looking around to find some inspiration and open my eyes to what paper-craft can be and what I really like about 3d paper sculptures. While looking around on colossal I found some really precious animal sculptures, backlit paper dioramas, and pop coloured tech casing that appears infinitely customizable and cherished.
For my individual artist to focus on I chose Lucie Thomas and Thibault Zimmermann, known by their moniker Zim & Zou. The french duo relishes the medium of paper for its versatility, texture, and colour range. The duo crafts with a manufactured quality in their more box shaped work. The whimsy in the colour palette is familiar to barbie's in box, and other toys. It's brings comfort and joy through an overly coloured childish palette that sparks wonder. The edges are clean, detail isn't left behind in these miniatures. Surfaces sometimes reflect the low poly reality for paper in the precious recreations.
In this body of work they show a strong desire for environmental design, utilizing quirky dioramas of miniature boats, trees, scenes, houses, imaginatively scaled and presented. The worlds are controlled and crafted expertly. "Open Book" allows storied environments to spill out onto the bookshelf and populate with their textured renderings and cutely crafted style. Details can exist but aren't overused, the designs are honest and speak from a warm heart that lives to comfort others.
In their "Back To Basics" post they revert back to an earlier computer age of floppy discs and analog housewares. Their paper-crafting finesse serves to meld the party palette of the 80s with the eras technology. With the ages of the artists in perspective we see a yearning for the nostalgic and pause to reflect on the quirkyness of 80s-90s electronics in the big boxy mobile phones and gritty film cameras. The duo plays with peaceful leather texturing using cutout layering, and emulates early detailed prototyping with a lively energy.
The duo inspires me with their meticulously designed work. It's sharpness, controlled edges, and precisely sliced paper. I find comfort and hypnosis in the design process and problem solving, this body of work exemplifies a control, tediousness, and perfection that I crave in my own work aligned with smooth textures and the inviting warmth and delicacy of paper. I find myself in awe about the engineering and planning that must take place to craft such realistic objects and replicas.
There is something soothing and calming about miniatures. a sense of control perhaps? or an urge to collect objects that we can't necessarily collect in life size. My desire for stationary is also reflected here with the increased interest in the varied yet cohesive colour palettes.
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