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‘My entire practice revolves around the craft, context is of secondary importance.’ Layla May Arthur (1999) is a paper artist who creates the most refined sculptures using little more than paper, glue, and a scalpel. She loves the everyday nature of the material and uses her artisanal crafting skills to transform it into something unique. The wide accessibility of paper as a material sharply contrasts with the refined character of her work. By playing with the expectations of the spectator and incorporating elements from other crafts, she emphasizes the intricacies of the material.
For the series Unfolded (2024), which is shown at Prospects, Arthur transformed stone into paper. Serving as the point of departure for all works in this series is the question of how to translate stone masonry into paper. This has resulted in works that simultaneously appear fragile and solid. Arthur found inspiration for these in the reliefs found in Italian palazzos, featuring stuccowork with decorative patterns. At the same time these repetitive patterns also evoke associations with fabrics and tapestries. By also focusing on other crafts and translating the shapes used in these into paper, Arthur is constantly further refining her own craft.
Text: Milo Vermeire
Translated from Dutch by Marie Louise Schoondergang (The Art of Translation)