Jen Stark: Kaleidoscopic Paper Eruptions

14 Dec 2007 Category: Arts & Crafts, Features, Worldwide

Jen Stark: Kaleidoscopic Paper Eruptions

"Burst" by Jen Stark, demonstrating a powerful eruptive force with just stacks of cardboard! Photo by Harlan Erskine.

Look at these intriguing, repetitive shapes like eruptions by Miami-based Jen Stark: Her three-dimensional, kaleidoscopic paper art is simply hand-made with dozens of layers of thick coloured paper. With her abstract geometrical patterns just shown in the new Tactile book by DGV, PingMag feeds you an interview with the artist about the quality of cardboard.

Written by Verena

Two-dimensional circles jumping out of the frame: Detail of “Production Line: Triangle, Circle, Square.” Photo by Harlan Erskine.

When did you start with your… can I call it kaleidoscope paper art?

I began making paper sculptures when I went to study in France for a semester. Since I could only take two suitcases with me for five months, I decided to purchase art supplies when I got there. The Euro was high and everything was pretty expensive, so I decided to get the cheapest but coolest looking thing in the art store – a stack of construction paper! I started experimenting with what paper could turn into and it took off from there.

The tendency of any body on the Earth’s surface to drift to the side due to the planet’s rotation is called the “Coriolis Effect.” Here, we see paper drifting to many sides, by Jen Stark. Photo by Harlan Erskine.

What makes paper so fascinating to work with?

I like the fact that it is so common and usually used two-dimensionally… and I’m trying to show what it can do sculpturally and how much it can be transformed with such little changes. Also I love all the colours it comes in!


Awesome! “Piece of an infinite hole.” Photo by Harlan Erskine.

And the same hole - with a depth of 4 ft and a diameter of 2 ft. Photo by Harlan Erskine.

What exactly do you use?

Usually card stock, non-fade and acid free.

Does it have to have a certain quality to be rigid enough, such as for your marvellous “Primaries” series?

It is better for it to be pretty rigid for more sturdiness and this will also help it last longer.

Intricate paper works resembling three-dimensional objects: “Primaries: Red,” by Jen Stark.

Roughly how many layers goes into one piece?

It can range from about thirty to eighty, depending on the piece.

And how do you choose the order of the colours in the stack?

I usually buy a stack and then arrange it how I think the colours look good together. I try to spread them out a bit so they are mixed up and contrasting colours are next to each other.


“Peepholes” Photo by Harlan Erskine.

… and the awesome, illuminated “View Inside Peephole #1.” Photo by Harlan Erskine.

The Mandala-style “Untitled.” Photo by Harlan Erskine.

When you pick the colours, do you just grab everything in the store?

I get the “Assortment Pack” and use all these colours it comes with. I haven’t used black very much because the colourful packs I buy don’t usually have it. But I just got a bunch of black papers separately so I can use them now.

About the mysterious “Untitled:” Is it inspired by kind of a Mandala? How do you develop it?

It is mainly inspired by geometric patterns. I just cut a shape and slowly change it as the layers progress. With these kind of sculptures I usually don’t know what the end design will look like.

Resembling geographic depictions of differences in altitude: “Microscopic Entry.” Trippy!

Do you have a certain method of cutting? For example, how did you achieve these multiple layers in “Anatomical Evolution”?

I cut each layer of paper one by one and then put them together. I always cut by hand using an X-Acto knife. It is a bit time-consuming, but I like it!

Detail of “Assorted Explosion:” imagine how long these most delicate cuts might have taken… Photo by Harlan Erskine.

About your lovely eruptive “Assorted Explosion:” Is it meant to depict an explosion in its early stage?

Exactly! Usually, stacks of construction paper are sold in “assortments” of colour. So, I wanted to play with that word as well as what it looks like it’s doing: exploding. A very colourful kind of explosion and there may be many paper cuts.

A metaphor for people’s multiple inside layers… “Cylinder: Paper Cut.” Photo by Harlan Erskine.

A beautiful “Mold Study.” Photo by Harlan Erskine.

The “Cylinder: Paper Cut” with a solid surface that’s cut open caught my eye: Could we see the paper layers as a symbolic representation of the inner layers of people, or objects…?

Definitely. You are one of the first people to mention this. I like to make the insides very colourfully confusing. You can relate it to people or things being so complicated and elaborate on the inside. Yet the outside layer is usually white to show that something may look simple and ordinary on the outside – but the inside is beaming with colour!

An inside showing a colourful spectrum indeed…

Yes, and it can also be a metaphor on how intricate and colourful people are, both physically and emotionally. There is a lot more to what is inside than what you see. And the paper sculptures give a little window to look into…

See it move! Stop-motion animation “Papermation” from 2007.

Multiple layers as metaphor for the many layers a personality may have… How poetic cardboard can be! So, apart from your paper explosions, what inspired your beautiful, fragile paper leaves as silhouettes?

I live in Miami, Florida, and these leaves came off of trees from my parent’s backyard. They are called sea-grape trees because the trees produce grape-looking berries. I was searching for something to cut into and I decided to try a leaf because it is pretty thick and strong. I was inspired by how leaves can naturally turn into skeletons over time – losing the green part and keeping only the veins. I wanted to simulate this with my X-Acto.

Real leaves from the folk’s backyard, meticulously cut out… Photo by Harlan Erskine.

Thank you, Jen for these amazing paper eruptions!

45 Comments

  1. Fascinating - the way Stark transforms planes into objects is more startling and exuberant than I have ever found origami to be. Great find, Verena.

    Posted by: grandin on December 14th, 2007 at 7:28 pm

  2. the leaves are freakishly amazing!!

    Posted by: Anne on December 14th, 2007 at 7:54 pm

  3. This is amazing and iy reminds me of fractal geometry that I’m studying.

    Posted by: célia jordão alves on December 15th, 2007 at 1:03 am

  4. sweet! yes great find :)

    Posted by: mexist on December 15th, 2007 at 3:25 am

  5. absolutely brillant

    Posted by: Trilce on December 15th, 2007 at 6:19 am

  6. Absolutely brilliant.

    Posted by: El Greco on December 15th, 2007 at 6:52 am

  7. Wow! I usually don’t like kaleidoscopes and stuff like that, but this is just amazing! Very creative, extremely beautiful and inspiring!
    I love it!

    Posted by: Akai on December 15th, 2007 at 8:28 am

  8. Oh,so cool
    I like it very much!!!

    Posted by: will on December 15th, 2007 at 10:11 am

  9. [...] con papel de este artista establecido en miami pingmag publico un interesante articulo acerca del trabajo de este [...]

    Posted by: Caos Urbano » Archivo del Weblog » Caleidoscopio de papel on December 15th, 2007 at 3:32 pm

  10. [...] ads found only in canada jen stark’s paper kaleidoscopes December 15, 2007 PingMag recently interviewed Jen Stark about her colourful paper [...]

    Posted by: jen stark’s paper kaleidoscopes « urban-ism on December 15th, 2007 at 3:38 pm

  11. I love the vibrant colors.

    Posted by: Japan Photos on December 15th, 2007 at 7:06 pm

  12. Absolutely Amazing!!

    Posted by: Flavio on December 15th, 2007 at 11:43 pm

  13. Una maravilla, el arte no ha muerto!

    Posted by: Alfredo Narváez on December 16th, 2007 at 4:44 am

  14. Paul Smith.

    Posted by: TIML on December 16th, 2007 at 11:42 am

  15. [...] . . . continued December 16, 2007 While browsing blogs I found PingMag has just posted an interview with Jen Stark who i featured back in October. The interview gives a interesting insight into [...]

    Posted by: Jen Stark . . . continued « I to I on December 16th, 2007 at 7:00 pm

  16. i found out about stark awhile ago and this is a great insight!

    yes they do look like paul smith’s signature stripes…

    Posted by: may on December 16th, 2007 at 8:29 pm

  17. I sent this to a friend who does sculptures from paper she makes herself (don’t drink just anything you find in her blender!). Her reason for choosing this material originally reminds me of my student paintings that were all in colors like burnt umber. The material may be cheap, but her creativity and ability are priceless. She forgot to mention, though, that those free seagrapes make wonderful jelly. I’ve never known anyone to get creative with the leaves.

    Posted by: Oldfolks on December 16th, 2007 at 11:44 pm

  18. Insane!

    Posted by: TOTORO on December 17th, 2007 at 12:16 am

  19. Amazing!

    Posted by: jakeBangalter on December 17th, 2007 at 12:51 pm

  20. [...] el link al genial (y sesudo) trabajo de Jen Stark ahora que le dedican un espacio en PingMag [en], por si todavía hay alguno que no lo haya visto. Este hombre seguro que sacaba siempre matrícula [...]

    Posted by: Criterion » Archivo del weblog » Jen Stark on December 19th, 2007 at 4:53 pm

  21. Cyoooooooooool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted by: Karla on December 20th, 2007 at 7:55 am

  22. QUE GRANDE TIA!!!!!

    Posted by: roger on December 22nd, 2007 at 10:20 pm

  23. I was absolutely taken by the photograph of what appeasr to be a child completely engaged by “Piece of and infinite hole”…Fanatstically captivating, expansive and riveting!

    Posted by: jdit on December 27th, 2007 at 10:54 am

  24. [...] Link: -pingmag.jp [...]

    Posted by: kudabur » Papel Caleidoscopio on December 31st, 2007 at 12:06 am

  25. Love it!

    http://www.maxomat.com

    Posted by: Max on December 31st, 2007 at 11:08 am

  26. lovelovelovelove!!!!!!

    Posted by: Alice on December 31st, 2007 at 11:53 am

  27. I feel in love with you awesome work

    Posted by: Atheer on January 1st, 2008 at 8:43 am

  28. creativity at its best!!!

    http://www.formbureau.com

    Posted by: olyver jean on January 3rd, 2008 at 2:46 pm

  29. i know jenny jen, she’s a good egg a lovely person, more fun than a barrel of anything and colorful both outside and in. i also love her work, i have a j stark in my home. it lights up my day…

    Posted by: edgar on January 3rd, 2008 at 4:31 pm

  30. i know jenny jen, she’s a good egg, a lovely person, a great artist, more fun than a barrel of anything and colorful both outside and in. i also love her work, i have a j stark in my home. it lights up my day…

    Posted by: edgar on January 3rd, 2008 at 4:32 pm

  31. i love

    Posted by: zuodan on January 10th, 2008 at 11:28 am

  32. I have four Starks to light up every moment of every minute of every hour of every day.

    Posted by: Jeff on January 11th, 2008 at 1:01 am

  33. the leaves had to have been done while alive and green. there’s no way you can cut dried leaves like that.

    this work is so inspiring to see. meticulous but beutiful.

    …ryan

    Posted by: ryan on January 11th, 2008 at 4:05 am

  34. [...] Click HERE to go to his site. Click HERE to go to his blog. Click HERE to go to  PingMag’s interview with Jen Stark. [...]

    Posted by: ARTKAMP » Featured Artist: Jen Stark on January 12th, 2008 at 2:58 pm

  35. [...] pingmag has an article about jen stark and her crazy paper art sculptures [...]

    Posted by: the adventures of teapot the cat » paper art by jen stark on January 31st, 2008 at 9:54 am

  36. Truly spectacular!

    Posted by: clara on February 15th, 2008 at 12:15 am

  37. [...] 16, 2007 While browsing blogs I found PingMag has just posted an interview with Jen Stark who i featured back in October. The interview gives a interesting insight into [...]

    Posted by: i to i on March 10th, 2008 at 4:08 am

  38. Awesome, these genius people are brilliant, who knows that paper could’ve been so beautiful!

    Posted by: Saaettle on March 15th, 2008 at 12:17 am

  39. [...] juin 2008 in Songeries J’ai trouvé ça dans “PingMag”, blog tokyoïte que j’adore, et je trouve ça fabuleux ce [...]

    Posted by: Impressionnant ce qu’on peut faire avec des papiers de couleur! [en] « |Le Fouineur Fou| on June 8th, 2008 at 6:52 pm

  40. [...] PingMag - Interview with Jen Stark [...]

    Posted by: Interactief Arnhem » Kunst van Karton on October 17th, 2008 at 9:56 am

  41. [...] seen on: ping mag and folding [...]

    Posted by: rene noir on October 24th, 2008 at 1:24 pm

  42. Wow. The art is beautiful and vibrant and the video is exciting…reminiscent of Eames’ in a strange way… great work!

    -Heather

    Posted by: Heather Garland on October 31st, 2008 at 1:46 pm

  43. [...] seen Jen Stark’s work but here it is again with a good [...]

    Posted by: Various « somethingXY on January 10th, 2009 at 3:39 pm

  44. wow..
    its nice ahh..

    Posted by: roO'nAa on June 13th, 2009 at 3:02 pm

  45. [...] seen on: ping mag and folding [...]

    Posted by: Inspiration: // Jen Stark – sara cannon on October 12th, 2009 at 9:43 am

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