AGOMakes From Home: Inspired by the AGO Collection
“I need to make, I need to use my hands, I need to feel that I can respond with my body, that the work has to be experiential. For me knowing resides in the actual making because through making I have the real time of negotiating decisions and making mistakes which I can learn from as well, so the making is really important” Ed Pein
Canadian contemporary artist Ed Pien’s practice is drawing-based. For Spellbound, he used an X-Acto knife as his drawing tool and traditional Japanese paper fused to reflective 3M material as his support. He removed sections of the paper with his knife, creating a huge image of a dense, unearthly forest where shadowy human figures hide in the trees and vines.
Pien’s cut-paper artworks play with silhouette and shadow, creating drama with a strong contrast between positive and negative space. Instead of drawing on paper, try drawing with paper and create your own shadow puppets.
Watch Tiana Roebuck, AGO Associate Curator, Learning & Studio Programs, make paper-cut shadow puppets using recycled materials found at home.
Gather recycled cardboard, scissors, tape, a bed sheet and a flashlight or lamp and you're ready to begin.
Use your imagination! You can bring any story to life through the art of paper-cutting and shadow puppets. You’ll need to create characters of course, but also props and objects that help you tell your story. Make a magical gemstone! Add a rocketship! Don’t forget to set the scene, creating puppets that help you explore the mood or environment. Is it raining in your story? Are there shooting stars?
Build your theatre by throwing a bed sheet over two chairs, flick on your flashlight and bring your puppets to life. Experiment with funny voices and sound effects and play the afternoon away.
What does your final composition look like? What would you try if you did it again? Share it with us at #AGOmakes @AGOToronto