A project to make recycled paper for display at the exhibition Afriques Capitales

I recently had the opportunity to work with an artist to make recycled paper for display as part of an art installation that is currently being shown at la Villette as part of the Afrique Captitales exhibition. Here are some photos, as well as a short description of the project and how it was completed.

Recycled paper for display
Recycled paper for display

Artist Poku Cheremeh approached me to help him with part of his installation POKOJ, which is a reproduction of a student’s room made from dried foods and other everyday items : a night stand covered with with chewed gum, a curtain made from hair, a stool covered in Carambar caramel, and walls made from dried WASA crackers.

Walls made from dried WASA crackers
Walls made from dried WASA crackers

My role in the project was to make an exterior façade for the room out of the packaging from the products used to create the interior, as well as personal documents of Poku’s.

WASA packets from the crackers used to line the walls
WASA packets from the crackers used to line the walls

We worked together to make a paper making frame at the correct panel size, do some tests with the different materials and try out different techniques for hanging the completed paper façade. I eventually made over 200 sheets of paper using recycled documents, sugar packets (which had been used to ‘glue’ the cracker walls together) and the WASA packaging from the cracker walls.

Tests made from wrappers of different products used for the creation of the installation
Tests made from wrappers of different products used for the creation of the installation

The paper was made using the same basic technique as my tutorial for handmade plantable paper. However, to make rectangular sheets of the correct size I made wooden frames to use as a more solid screen, and added ripped up packaging instead of flower seeds as I made each sheet of paper.

This hand made frame with fabric stretched over it is what I used as a paper making screen
This hand made frame with fabric stretched over it is what I used as a paper making screen
Recycled paper and cardboard is soaked and blended before being transformed into new sheets
Recycled paper and cardboard is soaked and blended before being transformed into new sheets
Excess water is removed with a sponge
Excess water is removed with a sponge
Each sheet is pressed before being left to dry between absorbant sheets
Each sheet is pressed before being left to dry between absorbant sheets
The completed paper sheets before hanging - I made over 200
The completed paper sheets before hanging – I made over 200

Finding the correct method to hand the paper was another big challenge. In the end I used two methods to hang the façades. One using eyelets to make sturdy holes in each sheet from which to hang and clip them together. The other method involved sewing each vertical section to two ribbons which were then used to hang the whole section from the top of the wall.

Paper hung by being sewn to two ribbons
Paper hung by being sewn to two ribbons
Recycled paper hung using eyelets
Recycled paper hung using eyelets

The project is on display at La Villette, as part of the Afriques Capitales exhibition which will be open until the 28th May.

Afriques Capitales exhibition
Afriques Capitales exhibition
Afriques Capitales
Open until 28 May 2017
From Wednesday to Sunday 12 to 8pm
Grande Halle, La Villette, Porte de Pantin

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