Yuchengco Museum Exhibit Celebrates Artistry of Paper

Pumapapel: Art in Paper
July 13 – November 6, 2010

The Yuchengco Museum’s newest exhibit, Pumapapel: Art in Paper, showcases the beauty and versatility of paper as an artistic medium. On view from July 13 to November 6, Pumapapel also explores paper in a range of art forms.

Amid a society of the Internet, texting, and Photoshop, Pumapapel pays tribute to everyday paper, elevated and transformed. Pumapapel features the work of seven artists, artisans, and designers who use paper not merely as a surface on which their art is conveyed. These artists push the boundaries of this common material, looking at it as a source of inspiration and a medium in its own right.



Designers and paper artists Tony Gonzales and Tes Pasola have been reinventing paper as a medium for art and design for decades. Gonzales experiments with handmade abaca and makes collages for international calendar competitions; Pasola, on the other hand, plays around with papers infused with leaves, wires, and seeds and transforms paper into natural shapes.

Printmaker Pandy Aviado, who was one of the first artists to promote the use and production of handmade paper in art, creates prints and drawings ranging from surreal to minimalist collage. Sculptor Impy Pilapil, who often works with stone, stainless steel, and glass, creates paper art by pleating paper to create geometric designs. Visual artist Joey Cobcobo forays into painting, printmaking, and woodcarving, combining these disciplines in assemblages and installations.

Japanese designer and papermaker Wataru Sakuma infuses Japanese technology and Filipino materials. He also experiments with recycled items such as carton boxes turned into pulp, which he then molds into sculptures. Master papermaker, book artist, and researcher Asao Shimura, on the other hand, makes piña paper for art papers and shifu (fabric created from handmade paper threads).

Other highlights of Pumapapel include “Paper Play,” a special alcove where visitors can tap into their inner artist and create their own paper art; “Paper Dolls,” a collection of paper couture especially created by students from the School of Fashion and the Arts (SoFA); and “Paper Days,” a display of limited edition calendars fashioned from a wide array of handmade papers.

To complement the exhibit, the museum will offer a series of public programs such as workshops, talk, and family art activities. Topics include paper crafts for people of all ages, handmade papermaking, and international design trends in paper.

Pumapapel: Art in Paper will be on view through November 6 at the Yuchengco Museum. The museum is located at RCBC Plaza, at the corner of Ayala and Sen. Gil Puyat Avenues, Makati City. Museum hours are from Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 889-1234 or visit www.yuchengcomuseum.org.