Artist Vincent Tomczyk likes working with paper because, in his own words, “my art requires me to be part craftsman and part engineer.” His clothing, chairs and other objects crafted from various types of paper and foamcore are hard to discern from the originals because the likenesses are uncannily realistic.
Vincent Tomczyk Paper Sculptures
Below are selections from his Versisimilitudes and Virtu Collections:
Artist’s Statement:
My art centers on objects to stimulate visceral connections. These compositions represent biographies of people, experiences and interpretations of intangible ideas. Although my work can be categorized as realism, my intention is to distill the emotion of an object, then through expression, reconstruct it into my view of its essential self – free of function.
As an artist working primarily with paper, my art requires me to be part craftsman and part engineer. I learned a lot about how to construct things by working at my father’s side, in his workshop. I’m compelled to produce work that is visually poetic by using a medium that defies perceived limitations.
I am currently working on a series of paper chairs. I am interested in how personal chairs can become over time – almost taking on the characteristics of their owners. Chairs provide a sense of dignity – from hand carved stools in Africa, to thrones in Europe. Conversely, chairs are ubiquitously a part of our public and social lives, bringing humanity together in small groups or en masse. – Vincent