Paper Art

I started cutting paper circa 2009, when I was studying at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. I was exploring paper engineering for my diploma project and did a paper craft based wall art and animation as my BA final piece. The word Paper in Wind On Paper is there because it was a significant part of what I used to do. But then I couldn’t think of any practical application for my paper cutting skills so I stopped for almost 10 years. 

In 2022, after the full scale invasion in Ukraine started, getting inspiration in Ukrainian culture was the only thing that helped me cope with the news. Vytynanka - is a centuries long Ukrainian tradition of paper cut designs used for indoor decoration. Usually they are symmetrical and can be any shape and colour. I decided to start with white and concentrate on the subjects that are important for understanding the culture, history and nature of Ukraine. Wheat was the first thing that came to my mind. Bread is the essence of Ukrainian cousins. The very pronunciation of the Ukrainian round bread loaf Palyanytsa used to be a test to tell the friend from the enemy. Ukraine is and has been one the largest exporters of wheat in the world. And yet Soviet authorities created an artificial famine in Ukraine in 1930s, by confiscating and selling all the crops abroad. The deep symbolism of wheat is embroidered in the collective memory of the nation; maybe that’s the reason I cannot stop cutting out this very theme. 

I also did several versions of sunflower - a National flower of Ukraine, storks - a National bird and other plants. 

Each of my designs is unique despite looking similar. Every time I start with a new illustration sketch, different from the ones I drew before. Some of the designs presented here are in private collections, but some are still for sale. 

You can also commission me to cut out something special for you. Please keep in mind that it is a time consuming technique and all orders have to be placed in advance of minimum 2 weeks depending on complexity of the job.