Learn about slowing down through papercutting with artist Ashley Yeo.
Published: 2 Nov 2021
Time taken : <5mins
How do simple mundane materials such as paper turn into intricate lace-like patterns and delicate pieces of art? Embark on a paper cutting journey with Ashley Yeo as she introduces the art of slowing down through paper cutting, along with Parry, an ex-army regular.
Video reproduced with permission from the National Arts Council.
Papercutting first appeared during the Han Dynasty in China after the invention of paper. Typically, intricate lace-like patterns are cut out continuously from a single piece of paper, not requiring the use of binding agents like glue. While simple in material, paper cuttings come to life through careful planning, precision, skill and patience. This art form has many iterations in cultures across the world, such as kirigami in Japan and scherenschnitte in Germany.
Ashley Yeo is an artist whose practice revolves around themes of lightness and slowness. She specialises in mostly drawing and papercutting. Ashley was the first Singaporean artist to be shortlisted for the 2018 LOEWE Craft Prize.
Try your hands at some basic paper cutting.
Read more about the history of paper cutting.
Commissioned by National Arts Council (Singapore), Pretty Exciting Stuff is an ongoing video series featuring conversations between everyday Singaporeans and our talented visual artists. Get to know our local artists and their mediums and see what goes on behind the scenes of this exciting stuff called visual arts!
