flexible honeycomb paper sculptures by li hongbo

detailed view of 'flexible woman' by li hongbo, 2010
paper
dimensions variable
all images courtesy eli klein fine art


beijing-based artist and designer li hongbo manipulates sheets of brown paper into sensuous three-dimensional sculptures. hongbo explores
the malleability of the medium-- his portfolio is comprised of a collection of artworks which employ the traditional techniques of the chinese
children's toy known as 'paper gourd' in which elaborate shapes are formed from a stack of interconnected sheets. the strategically placed lines
of glue join thousands of sheets into units which are then sculpted by the artist into artworks recalling the human form. their flexible shapes
both resemble a person's body, yet, the free range of movement enabled by the connected material allows for an unreal hyper-extension or
elongation of the figure's limbs. the result of hongbo's experimentation with this medium is a body of surrealistic works formed by the traditional
chinese decorative technique of honeycombed paper.

pieces by li hongbo are on display in the show 'material → object' at eli klein fine art in new york city from may 29th through july 19th, 2012. 



a wide perspective of 'flexible woman'



'smart little man', 2012
paper
51 1/2 x 26 inches (131 x 66cm)



'flexible human', 2010
paper
66 1/4 x 18 1/4 x 11 1/4 inches (170 x 48 x 30 cm)



'flexible woman', 2010
paper
dimensions variable