Objects in the Third Dimension: Illuminated Paper

"Paper is brutal in its simplicity as a medium. It demands the attention of the artist while it provides the softness they need to mold it into something beautiful. It is playful, light, colourless and colourful. It is minimal and intricate. It reflects light, creates depth and illusions in a way that it takes the artist through a journey of limitless possibilities." - Hari and Deepti

Paper is an extraordinary and versatile medium. The ways in which artists have used paper in their art differ greatly and, as such, the material greatly inspires creative thinking. When combined with other mediums especially, paper can be transformed into incredible creations.

Deepti Nair and Harikrishnan Panicker (referred to as Hari and Deepti) have inspired artists with their illuminated cut paper light boxes. When fully assembled, the artworks add an incredible sense of depth, and create strong tone through strategic use of lighting and layered paper. The medium is paired well with stylized fantasy settings that achieve a warm, magical, glow. The pair play around with different ways to introduce lighting into their concept by incorporating different elements into the designs known for emitting light such as stars or fire.

The works themselves are created through the use of cut paper, shadow boxes and LED light strips. The paper is cut separately by layer and stacked to allow differing amounts of light through. It is then placed inside a shadow box and lit from behind with the light strips. Artists on YouTube create work similar to that of Hari and Deepti's and many found the inspiration to do so through exposure to the artists' work. The different YouTubers have found similar ways of producing illuminated cut paper shadow boxes, with some building their own shadow boxes from scratch and others working with store bought boxes for convenience.

I selected this collection of artworks to review because the medium truly brings the paper to life. The light adds an incredible amount of depth and creates a magical environment that is nearly impossible to look away from. There is a sense of unity amongst the different layers that makes the composition absolutely fascinating to me. I think what inspires me most about these cut paper works is the opportunities it creates for story telling. The medium truly adds character to the figures and makes extraordinary settings out of layered shapes. The style is simplistic yet awe-inspiring at the same time. I think narrative plays a huge role in art, and through Hari and Deepti's works, story and art appear to come together and bring out the best in one another.

More works by Hari and Deepti: