MESMERIZING PAPER SCULPTURES ARE ENGINEERING ART

MATTHEW SHLIAN

Art and science fuse on paper in Matthew Shlian’s mesmerizing kinetic paper sculptures.

The geometric works are composed of tight-knit tessellations, made from repeatedly folded paper.

Shlian, a paper engineer and artist, collaborated with scientists and engineers at the University of Michigan, to master the art and physics of micro-folding to create Escher-like patterns in 3D.

“As a paper engineer, my work is rooted in print media, book arts and commercial design,” Shlain says. “Beginning with an initial fold, a single action causes a transfer of energy to subsequent folds, which ultimately manifest in drawing and three dimensional forms.”

Shlian and his collaborators work on the nanoscale, translating paper structures to micro folds. Their investigations extend to visualizing cellular division and solar cell development.

Scientific principles and inquiry serve as a basis for artistic inspiration for Shlian. “In my studio I am a collaborator, explorer and inventor,” he explains. “I begin with a system of folding and at a particular moment the material takes over.”

“Guided by wonder, my work is made because I cannot visualize its final realization; in this way I come to understanding through curiosity.”

See more amazing geometric art, including very cool GIFs, in Genius Math Art Now.

Read more about Beautiful Paper in Beautiful Lace in Papercut Artworks, Giant Gorgeous Paper Flowers Are So Surreal and Bad News Turns Into Great Art: Awesome Newspaper Sculptures.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Courtesy of Matt Shlian. “Stagger.” (Detail). Art work by Matt Shlian.
2. Courtesy of Matt Shlian. Artist Matt Schlian working on one of his pieces.
3. Courtesy of Matt Shlian. “Ara 260.” Art work Matt Shlian.
4. Image: by Cullen Stephenson. “ALEATORIC COMPOSITION 1.”  Artwork by Matt Shlian.
5. Courtesy of Matt Shlian. “Process Series 2.” Art work by Matt Shlian.
6. Courtesy of Thomas Riley Studio. “When You Are Killing What You Are Meant to Kill There Can Be No Remorse.” Artist Matt Shlian with one of his paper artworks.
7. Image: by Cullen Stephenson. “ALEATORIC COMPOSITION 1.”  Artwork by Matt Shlian.
8. Image: Courtesy of Matt Shlian. Untitled.
9. Image: Courtesy of Matt Shlian. “Stagger.” Art work by Matt Shlian.
10. Image: by BN App - Download now!
11. Image: Courtesy of Matt Shlian. “IEFBR14.” Art work by Matt Shlian.