Papercraft Research

 Papercraft is an inexpensive yet detailed form of 3D art. This widely varying craft can easily function as a cheaper method to translate ideas as well as a pristine final project. 

In the case of the Installation of the duo Zim and Zou (Lucie Thomas and Thibault Zimmermann), their sculptures are fantastically colorful and intricately detailed. The medium allows for flat adornments of color and texture, as well as sculpted 3D elements. The style of their work is particularly geometric and bustling with life, their paper cities populated with tiny characters and detail at their scale.

Organic textures and shapes are created on 2D surfaces and the 3D structure of the sculpture. In the piece above, the round tiles of the roof create a texture unlike the flat application of different colored stripes of wood below. Also, the roof tiles converge in a cluttered yet organized manner. Every aspect of these sculptures is finely planned, even while they look organic. 

Symmetry balances with fun shapes and colors to make a seamless yet magical scene. In the above installation for Hermès in Dubai, each element has some form of radial symmetry that makes it both organic and balanced. The intentional craftsmanship of these objects does not create a mechanical feeling, because they are also packed with vibrant colors. 

The duo’s preference for paper as a medium comes from its vulnerability, variation, and versatility. They explain that “the flat paper sheets turned into volume are giving an installation the poetry of ephemeral material”.

They sell a class explaining their process on Patreon, detailing the intricacies of their craft. For free though, I can only explore what I can see in their designs. Each structure is decorated with layered designs created with small pieces of paper. The windows in their buildings are cut from the sheets that they decorate and further borders or other 2D details.

The reason I selected these artists to review is that Zim and Zou’s highly detailed, perfectly structured works are excellent demonstrations of craftsmanship and design. The color combinations and variety of textures and shapes created through just paper inspire me to delve deep into detail and pattern. Most of the ideas I want to bring to life are inspired by animals and creatures, and in those cases, I still want to achieve the same attention to detail and geometric structure and symmetry.