PETER GENTENAAR: A Master of Paper Sculpture
Peter Gentenaar is a Dutch paper artist who creates stunning and ethereal sculptures from handmade paper. His works are inspired by the organic forms of nature, such as plants, flowers, and aquatic life. He uses a unique technique of drying and shaping the paper sheets, which results in unpredictable and dynamic forms that seem to float in the air.
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Background and Inspiration
Gentenaar was born in 1946 in Leidschendam, the Netherlands. He studied printmaking and sculpture at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. He became interested in paper as a medium after being dissatisfied with the commercial papers available for his prints. He decided to make his own paper and learned how to build his own beater that produces long fiber papers that he prefers.
Gentenaar's paper sculptures are influenced by his observation of nature and its patterns. He says, "I find my inspiration in the plant world, where so many forms exist that express growth and decay. I see my work as an expression of the forces of nature, which I try to understand and capture in my sculptures."
Process and Technique
Gentenaar's process begins with making his own paper from various fibers, such as cotton, flax, abaca, and hemp. He adds pigments and dyes to create different colors and effects. He then lays out the wet paper sheets on a bamboo frame that he shapes according to his vision. The paper sheets are thin but strong, and reinforced with ribs of bamboo that resemble the veins of a leaf.
The magic happens when the paper dries. The paper shrinks by up to 40 percent, pulling and stretching the bamboo frame and creating the three-dimensional shapes that are characteristic of Gentenaar's sculptures. The artist does not control the final outcome, but rather lets the paper find its own form. He says, "The challenge for me is to arrive at a form that has not been thought up beforehand."
Exhibitions and Collaborations
Gentenaar has exhibited his paper sculptures all over the world, in galleries, museums, churches, castles, and gardens. Some of his notable exhibitions include the abbey church of Saint-Riquier in France, the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, and the Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence. His works have also been featured in various publications, such as V Magazine and Hi-Fructose Magazine.
Gentenaar has also collaborated with other artists and designers, such as fashion designer Iris van Herpen and photographer Nick Knight. He has created paper sculptures for fashion shows, photo shoots, and installations that combine his organic forms with cutting-edge technology and aesthetics.
Conclusion
Peter Gentenaar is a master of paper sculpture who transforms handmade paper into breathtaking works of art. His sculptures are inspired by nature and its forces, and reflect his curiosity and experimentation with the medium. His works are widely admired and exhibited around the world, and have also crossed boundaries into other fields of art and design.
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