Doily #1 (Trees and Crows)

Doily #1 (Trees and Crows), hand-cut paper, 8 x 8 inches, 2012

It has often crossed my mind that the craft of my work resembles that of a handmade doily. So, that is another territory that I wanted to play with --what would my rendition of a doily look like? For now, this piece is 8 x 8 inches, in an edition of 7. I am currently working on a 19 x 19 inch version. I want to make a really large doily, because I am fancy like that. 

Remembrance Day Newspaper Cut-out

Poppy newspaper cut-out

My grandfather was a General for Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist Army. During that time, my grandmother became a refugee with three children under her care. I remember my grandmother telling me many stories of hardship, of fear, while struggling to survive (including an encounter with bandits, which were commonplace at that time). When communism took over, my grandparents decided to settle in Hong Kong under British rule. 

My parents immigrated to Canada in 1976. I was born a few years later. My grandparents were later sponsored by my parents and eventually came to live with us. I have always been profoundly stricken by all things associated with war, imagining my family suffering during that time, and knowing that it exists in many different forms all over the world.

Interview for meaning-full.com

Almost forgot to mention that I did an interview with meaning-full.com which was published in October. 

Here's the link: http://meaning-full.com/10/art/illustration-joyce-lau/ (images) and http://meaning-full.com/10/art/illustration-joyce-lau/2/ (interview)

Playing Card Cut-outs (The Bluff)

King of Diamonds, Queen of Hearts, cut-outs on playing cards, back view, 2011-Present

King of Diamonds, Queen of Hearts, cut-outs on playing cards, front view, 2011-Present

My idea for making cut-outs on playing cards came about in 2011 during my residency in Holland. The concept behind these cut-outs is based on "the bluff" involved in particular card games, such as poker and black jack. In this series, I create cut-outs of particular cards on a playing cards. The bluff involves whether the viewer believes what I cut out on the backs of the card is the actual card to be revealed on the front side.  In the cards above, the King of Diamonds proves to be a bluff, revealing the 7 of Spades. The Queen of Hearts reveals truth.

JUMP

Jump, hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 8x8 inches, 2012

Mini Paper Cranes

77 Paper Cranes

After seeing the gigantic paper crane installation by Vik Muniz (Thanks Jon!), I was reminded of the 1000 paper cranes I made as a teenager. I made these cranes for my ailing grandmother. I went through so much paper that I started to make them smaller and smaller. Then I became obsessed with making the cranes as small as possible. I keep a small bundle of the cranes in a prescription medicine bottle which had once belonged to my grandmother.

Vik Muniz's giant paper crane

My friend Jonathan Hobin sent me a pic of Vik Muniz's giant paper crane installation that's made up of 2 million cranes. Cool. Found this article on it:

New York Times Exclusive: Artist Vik Muniz collaborates with Paper Cranes for Japan

Posted by Cameron on Aug 20, 2011

Two million cranes and 38 countries later we are excited to announce our new artist collaboration - Vik Muniz. Working with New York City schoolchildren and is studio, Vik has created huge piece out of thousands of cranes from the paper cranes for Japan campaign. You can now buy a limited edition print of this 36 foot by 40 foot work of art, all proceeds will go towards rebuilding education and youth projects in the Tohoku region of Japan. Mr. Muniz' cranework was featured in last weekend's New York Times Magazine!

http://architectureforhumanity.org/updates/2011-08-20-new-york-times-exclusive-artist-vik-muniz-collaborates-with-

Projection/ Installation for Nuit Blanche Devereaux (2009)

                              Melting Projection/Installation (ice, ink, projector, acetate), 2009

This was an installation that I did for Nuit Blanche Deveaureaux in 2009. Curated by the exceptionally talented team of Victoria Cheong and Allison Peacock, NBD was an "all day/evening program of works that represent a variety of female perspectives in a multi-disciplinary style".

This piece was comprised of an image of a human heart on acetate layered onto an image of smokestacks. I wanted to create movement to the work, so I added a layer of ice (formed as a rectangular block) and a few drops of red ink; and through the melting process, bubbles in the ice popped and travelled and mixed with the red ink. 

I love that my dear cat Kiska makes several cameos in this piece, giving an additional performance element to the work. That's my girl!

Auschwitz (2)

Untitled (Auschwitz 2), hand-cut paper, 4 layers, 30.5x18 inches,
2 panels (left panel 22x18 inches, right panel 8.5x 18 inches), 2012

This is another piece based on a photograph that I took at Auschwitz. The panel in this room reads as follows: The police prisoners (polizeihaftung) who were to be judged by the summary court, were put on the ground floor of barrack 11. They were not the inmates of the camp but of gestapo from Katowice, the victims of Nazi terror in occupied Poland. Most frequently they were sentenced to death, rarely to be put in KL Auschwitz.

Mother Superior

Mother Superior, hand-cut paper, 4 layers, 20x16 inches, 2012

Double Crane

Double Crane, hand-cut paper, light source, 13x13 inches, 2012
(This paper was initially folded into a paper crane, then unfolded and flattened to create the cut-out)

This is an idea that I first came up with following my residency in Holland last year. During that time away, I became more fascinated with the intrinsic qualities of paper, and wanted to accentuate the material attributes of paper: its texture, its fragility, and as demonstrated in this piece, the creases that can be created. I wanted to push the potential of beauty in what is naturally found in a piece of paper. 

I am thinking about making a series of folded paper cut-outs, and am currently in the process of getting a custom lightbox built for this piece. 

1... Cupcake

Cupcake newspaper cut-out

Trying to bring a smile to your face. You need a cupcake. Celebrated the birthdays of two amazing people this weekend. Just trying to prolong the wonderment and make it even more special.

2... Two of Cups

Two of Cups newspaper cut-out

Celebratory chalices clink. Harmony. Health and healing. Victory. A partnership of hope and trust.

3... Free Bird (Three newspaper cut-outs for Simcoe Day/Civic Holiday)

Free Bird newspaper cut-out

Did three newspaper cut-outs yesterday. I realized that I haven't done any for a while, and I wanted to utilize Simcoe Day as a means to celebrate. John Graves Simcoe was an important figure for Canada in many ways, but in particular, he was the one who abolished slavery in Canada. I placed this newspaper cut-out of a bird in flight (above the cover title "Wild Laws") near Queen's Park where there stands a statue of Simcoe. 

Pretty birdy

I'm Hungry, hand-cut paper, 5 layers, 8x8 inches, 2012

Made this piece for the "Put a Bird on It!" show at Hashtag Gallery. The exhibition opens tonight.

AWK

AWK, hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 8x8 inches, 2012

I lived in New York from 2001-2002. I moved there after getting an internship with the Starn Twins. I was a young eager thing then, and met lots of people at different art functions and other random places, including a person of importance for Vice Magazine. He told me to come by the office with my portfolio. In preparation, I scoured through all the recent issues, and one article stuck out in particular --Andew W.K. In Vice's review of his record, it wrote something along the lines of "asking Vice to review AWK is like asking Christians to review God." I noted that he was playing in town that weekend and I was determined to get into that sold-out show, and take phenomenal photos and impress the hell out of the magazine. This cut-out is based on a photo that I took from that show. Haha. 

Radio Moscow "LuckyDutch" (SXSW 2008)

Saw this band a couple of weeks ago, and was totally enthralled. WOW. Incredibly talented individuals. Inspiring sounds and creative energies. Great music to listen to while doing art work.

Mushroom Cloud

Atom Bomb, hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 8x10 inches, 2012

Rockers

Rockers, hand-cut paper, 5 layers, 8x8 inches, 2012

I love this piece. Happy to know that has a great new home after a fine weekend at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition. 

Pins in the making (a tupperware of cut-outs)

Making more pins for the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition. A heap of little cut-outs before I glue them onto wood pieces. This gives me ideas for future collages...

Helicopter leaf

Helicopter Leaf, hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 8x8 inches, 2012

I have no idea what the real name for these little guys are, but they'll always be helicopter leafs to me.

Getting ready for the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition

Vintage Horseman, hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 8x10 inches, 2012

Sailors, hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 8x10 inches, 2012

I'm a participating artist in the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition this year. This is my first year doing this show, and I am getting very excited as the weekend creeps closer. I've been working on smaller pieces. Here are a couple of them. 

Auschwitz

Untitled (Auschwitz), hand-cut paper, 4 layers, 25x19 inches, 2012

I traveled to Poland on a whim last February. I was completing an artist residency in The Hague, The Netherlands when I found a cheap flight to Warsaw, and said "why not?". From Warsaw, I realized that I had to go to Krakow to pay my respects to a vital, though morose, part of history. This piece is based on a photograph that I took in Auschwitz. The panel that accompanies this room reads as follows: The washroom where women stripped before execution, then they were led in twos to (the) yard and shot at the "death wall".

BIG BANG BIG BOOM - the new wall-painted animation by BLU

I am in complete awe of this artist's work. This is his most recent animated graffiti. Get ready to have your mind blown.

Feeling like a Matador

Matador newspaper cut-out

Did this newspaper cut-out today. Been pondering about this one for a while... Thinking of a dear friend in Spain... Warring felines (one black, one white - symbolic much?) currently dividing my apartment... Fighting and thinking... Entertaining and winning. Harnessing thoughts with dramatic flare. 

A Work in Progress...

Untitled (Barcelona Horizon), hand-cut paper, 9 layers, 25 x 19 inches, 2012

This has been my most ambitious piece yet, as it has 9 layers, but I don't feel that it is quite resolved. I tried to stay true to the colours from the photograph that I took while in Barcelona, but I feel that the beige parts aren't that effective. I need to experiment with this piece a bit more, perhaps with more shades of blue?

As I try to push myself by adding more layers and tones, I find it more difficult to incorporate finer details... maybe I should take a step back?

Outside Forbidden City

Outside Forbidden City, hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 25x19 inches, 2009

This was exhibited in a group show at LE Gallery in 2009. It was sold from the show to the Canadian Counselling Association.

This piece was based on a photograph that I took of police cadets in training outside of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Waiting for another Eureka!

Good-bye, hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 20x16 inches, 2007

I'm stuck at home on a lovely Sunday afternoon playing mediator between my cat and my parents' cat. Not going so well... Anywho, back to art... so, as I am trapped here to make sure no eyes are lost and no urine puddles will corrupt my apartment, I shall update my blog with work which I've been meaning to post. 

This was the first piece in which I created in this layered cut-out style. I took this photograph when I lived in London, England in 2000. I did a photo series documenting my time there, and I re-evaluated the photographs years later, pondering ways to bring the images to life in a different way. This cut-out hangs on a wall in my studio and I am reminded of that Eureka! moment every time I look at it. 

Volcano 1

Volcano 1, hand-cut paper, 5 layers, 19 x 13 inches, 2011

I never did post the full image of the piece in the header, did I? Here it is. I was only reminded of that fact since selling it on Monday. Sad to see it go, but happy that it's going to a fine home.

Fingerprint Variations, The Beaver, July 2011

Blindfold, hand-cut paper, 2 layers, diptych, 38x25 inches, 2008

Beatings, hand-cut paper, 2 layers, triptych, 40x19 inches, 2008

Les Messieurs du Port-Au-Prince, hand-cut paper, 2 layers,  25x19 inches, 2008

These are older works that show my progression with cutting technique. I was working with decorative papers at the time, but then found that I was unable to get too detailed on patterned papers, as the incisions would become lost in the designs. I moved onto gray paper, as my subject matter remained political and I wanted to suggest the look of a newspaper. 

These three pieces are all based on photographs I found in newspapers or in news magazines. The paper is cut in such a manner so that the image emanates from a central swirl. This was intended to implicate the look and the concepts that surround a fingerprint. "Beatings" is an image of an anti-government protester in Rawalpindi, Pakistan being beaten by police. Such images are rarely shown in their local press. "Blindfold" shows 3 blindfolded men who are about to be executed in Karaj, Iran. "Les Messieurs du Port-au-Prince" is an image of UN peacekeepers crossing a flooded river in Haiti. The title makes reference to Picasso's "Les Demoiselles d'Avignon," and connects the brothel scene in Picasso's piece to rape accusations that have been associated with UN peacekeepers. (This piece was also exhibited at Gallery 44's Photorama in 2008)

Scene from the film "O Lucky man!" (Lindsay Anderson,1973)

This is the scene that inspired my O Lucky Man! series of cut-outs. 

O Lucky Man!, LE Gallery, November 2010 (Part 5)

Biathlon, hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 19x25 inches, 2010
(I made this piece while watching the biathlon during the Olympics. This piece was a tribute to the recent death of Jay Reatard, combined with the iconic image of Marilyn Monroe, as both were targets in a frigid world.)

Unknown Uncle, hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 19x25 inches, 2009
(This piece is based on a photograph from my grandfather's photo album. It is a family portrait with my grandparents, my father, my aunt, and two uncles. I never met my youngest uncle, pictured here as a laughing pre-teen, as he was randomly stabbed in his youth and died in my father's arms.)

O Lucky Man!, LE Gallery, November 2010 (Part 4 - Colour)

(c)lovers, hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 19 x 19 inches, 2010

Knock, Knock, hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 19 x 25 inches, 2010

O Lucky Man!, LE Gallery, November 2010 (Part 3 - Classical references)

Memento Mori, hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 19x19 inches, 2010

I gathered the props and took a photo of the set-up, then transformed it into a cut-out. It's my homage to Dutch still life.

Big Buddha, hand-cut paper, 4 layers, 48x19 inches (2 panels, each panel 24x19 inches, 2010)

O Lucky Man!, LE Gallery, November 2010 (Part 2 - Swirly Girlies)

Swirly Girlies (NOW) and Swirly Girlies (EYE), cut-out with newspaper, each piece 11x14 inches, 2010 

These are two of four pieces I had in this style in the exhibition. They were hung back to back and suspended from the ceiling in front of the "Terracotta Army" and between "Girl" and "$50." The warriors represent power and strength, but here this power and strength is being tested by the ladies. The swirls imply that the warriors are being hypnotized/seduced. I wanted to express that characteristics which we admire/envy, that we consider are lucky, are not always as they appear. Even the strong have their weaknesses.The swirls in this piece also make reference to a target and associates with "Girl" – will she one day become one of the swirly girlies? I also purposefully placed "$50" next to these pieces to show this connection. However, with the swirl acting both as a hypnotic device and as a target, I further wanted to point out the power struggle between the swirly girlies and the terracotta army.

O Lucky Man!, LE Gallery, November 2010 (Part 1)

Artist Statement (excerpt):

Born lucky, or creating your own luck.

Lucky charms. Lucky in love. Lucky to be wealthy. Lucky to be alive.

The swirling curves of tapering circles draw you in, leading your eyes to a hypnotic focal point. A young girl vacantly stands out from a crowd. A horse runs swiftly. A woman finds $50 on the ground – or is she being given this sum from an unknown source? The Terracotta Army bravely protected the mausoleum of the First Emperor of Qin, but now stare blankly ahead. An empty bed duels with an injured llama, taking cue from a scene from the film O Lucky Man! in which this series was inspired from.

White shining/ Silver studs (with their nose in flames), hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 25x19 inches, 2010 

The title is a tribute to Patti Smith. I love her haunting voice.

Bed (1:21:53), hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 25x19 inches, 2009

The inspiration for this piece and series can be viewed at 1:21:53 of the Malcolm McDowell film O Lucky Man!. I was utterly petrified the first time I saw it.

Terracotta Army, hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 48x25 inches (3 panels, each panel 16x25 inches), 2010 

$50, hand-cut paper, 4 layers, 25x38 inches (2 panels, each panel 25x19 inches), 2010

Girl, hand-cut paper, 3 layers, 25x19 inches, 2009

I took this photograph in Beijing. I'll provide a more detailed description later when I upload more images from the show, as multiple pieces work together to tell a story.

Happy Friday the 13th

Horseshoe newspaper cut-out

I did this newspaper cut-out yesterday for Friday the 13th.