Paper Sculpture Projects by Peter Gentenaar Give Paper Art New Meaning

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Peter Gentenaar, Red Plume in Saint Riquier Abbey France, 130 x 140 cm, 2009 is one of the fascinating paper sculpture projects. Image courtesy of the artist

ART PROJECT

Paper Sculpture projects by Peter Gentenaar is a good reason to look up.

Paper Art- Image -Peter Gentenaar, Abbey of St.Riquier, Somme, France, hangs in mid air

Peter Gentenaar, Abbey of St.Riquier, Somme, France, Paper sculpture Art. Image courtesy of the artist

NETHERLAND – After years of working as a printmaker and engraver, Netherland-based artist Peter Gentenaar began to search for new ways to express his creative instincts. The result is a collection of bellowing paper sculptures that has continued to captivate art lovers across the globe. Gentenaar’s paper sculptures are the result of his dissatisfaction with commercial papers, and the quest for a better type of paper for executing his prints. “My interest in paper started while working as a printmaker, when my engravings had such deep relief, that commercial paper could not fill it,” he explained. Eventually, the artist began to look for ways to create his own paper. The pursuit of a better paper led to the creation of a beater that produces long-fiber paper pulp, the material he now uses for his sculptures.

Colorful Delicate Paper Sculptures

Peter Gentenaar’s inspiration comes from objects around him and his love of nature. He often describes his sculptures as a delicate leaf in nature. However, the artist can form the material into anything his imagination would allow. Gentenaar’s creation goes through several processes. His sculpture begins as 2-dimensional colored sheets of pulp laying on a vacuum table. Then, the creative process goes through different stages, and the sculpture acquires its 3-dimensionality through the pulp drying and shrinking in unison. The malleability of the materials, color, and texture makes working with paper exceptionally engaging.

Gentenaar’s colorful delicate paper sculptures made from handmade paper reinforced with ribs of bamboo. While some look like an amoeba, others look like jellyfish or some underwater organisms elegantly cascading through deep oceans. Gentenaar’s paper sculpture techniques involve a long process. It begins soon after the pulps are created. “My sculptures start as totally 2-dimensional, colored sheets of pulp laying on my vacuum table,” he explained. The pulpUnlike s are then transformed into wonderful artworks rich in color, texture, and the forms.

Churches, Galleries, and Museums

Gentenaar’s paper art projects have been featured in many exhibitions around the globe. The most recent is at the main restaurant at Hotel Indigo St. Petersburg. While some of the paper art sculptures are installed like traditional sculptures on pedestals, others are suspended from ceilings in vast spaces, including churches, galleries, and museums like the Le Musee Du Louvre in Paris.

At the Hotel Indigo St. Petersburg, Gentenaar’s large-scale paper pieces suspended from the ceiling drew a lot of art lovers. They were captivated by the surreal yet captivating environment dominated by colorful abstract forms.

Paper Sculpture Artists

Sculpting with paper is an intriguing endeavor. Unlike other hard materials, creating a paper sculpture is a very complicated and difficult process, because the artist has to ensure the stability and permanence of artwork. In spite of the difficulties, the number of paper sculpture artists is growing. Consequently, there are paper sculpture tutorials for artists looking for paper sculpture ideas.

However, while paper sculpting is becoming popular amongst young artists, it is not surprising why Gentenaar is considered one of the best paper sculpture artists in the world today. His artworks are unique and outstanding. The artist has also written several books for Biennales in Holland and related articles on his creative processes with the objective of educating other paper sculpture artists. Here are just a few examples of his artworks. You can see more of his artworks see more of his work on his website.