Revolutionizing Art with Paper Quilling: Xue Wang's Zen

Award-winning Design Harnesses the Power of Paper for Profound Expression

Xue Wang's Zen is a reflection of her desire to maintain inner peace amidst the noise and bustle of the world. Inspired by an image of a woman smiling peacefully with her eyes closed, Wang created this artwork to express a calm, confident attitude towards life. It symbolizes a starting point, a budding of energy, and a full sail of hope.

What sets Zen apart is its unique construction. Using 1 cm wide colored paper strips, Wang handcrafted large and small rolls to create lines and surfaces. By varying the size, shape, and color contrast of these rolls, she achieved an unexpected visual effect. The result is a piece of art that is as intricate as it is captivating.

The realization of Zen involved curling and folding long paper strips into various elements such as circles, curves, and wavy lines. These were then pasted onto cardboard to present a 3D effect. The final artwork, measuring 300 x 400 x 15 mm, is framed in a hardwood frame with UV Protected glass, making it a perfect piece for print or wall decoration.

Wang's Zen is a testament to the versatility of paper. Despite the material's limitations, such as its inability to easily mix colors, Wang managed to express gradient colors through various folding and curling methods. The use of bright colors reflects the complexity of the world, while the calm faces under these colors represent a serene state of mind in a flashy world.

Creating Zen was not without its challenges. Wang had to develop a technique that had never been used before to create different visual effects. She pushed the boundaries of what was possible with paper, overcoming the material's restrictions to achieve the desired color gradient and contrast effect.

In conclusion, Xue Wang's Zen is a remarkable piece of art that pushes the boundaries of traditional design. It demonstrates the transformative power of simple materials and innovative techniques, earning it the prestigious Golden A' Fine Arts and Art Installation Design Award in 2021. Zen serves as an inspiration for designers and artists to explore the possibilities of their chosen materials and to create artworks that truly resonate with viewers.