Local artist Benson Lam has opened his latest exhibition at Taipa Village Art Space creating three-dimensional art with paper. Macau’s Festival of Diversity features 26 pieces that reveal the traditions of Macau’s festivals, the beauty of urban scenes, Macau’s lifestyle and traditional Portuguese charm.
“Using paper I have created 3D sculptures about spaces, buildings and monuments in Macau. It is work that requires a lot of patience, but not too complicated to do,” Benson explains.
The artist uses polygonal techniques to create evocative sculptural forms by applying “low poly” interpretations of geometry “giving rise to vibrancy and vitality to this artistically and culturally rich city,” he explains.
“Sculpting and folding paper is the way to make it non-flat. It’s something magical. Notice that with a piece of paper we can make any shape,” he notes, “going beyond the conventional purposes of visual and decorative stimulation, handmade paper should also be functional to bring the image to life.”
Born in Macau, Benson Lam studied and worked in Hong Kong, Milan, Barcelona and New York for over 10 years, specializing in three-dimensional paper modelling and design as well as training. He was appointed as a showcase instructor in the 43rd World Skills Competition organized by the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) and occasionally lectures at summer courses run by the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ). Concurrently, he runs a production studio in Thailand and another in Malaysia, providing pre-cut materials and assisting with production and training.
“Low poly” is a design style that uses geometric calculations to transform an image into a given number of polygons. The resulting acute angles and sculptural appearances give any depicted object a striking style characterized by planes.
The exhibition “is a unique blend of polygonal digital art with polygonal paper forms, polygonal paper light boxes and polygonal handmade paper to show the diversity and functionality of paper art,” notes the press release from the Taipa Village Cultural Association, the organisers of the exhibition.
“It is an honor to have Benson Lam present his vivid collection of paper sculptures at Taipa Village. Paper is considered a rare interpretation of art because of its fragility. However, by pushing creativity beyond traditional limits, its potential can be fully realized, giving it incredible vitality and sculptural qualities,” says Pamela Chan, Vice President of the Executive Board of Taipa Village Cultural Association.
The exhibition, which is supported by the Macau Foundation, will be open until October 1, every day from noon to 8 pm, and admission is free.
