The technique of hand-recycled paper and its place in contemporary plastic art

Abstract

This article addresses the ways in which hand-recycled paper from paper pulp can be not only a plastic element but also a conceptual component in contemporary art. The historical development and significance of paper for human civilization is briefly outlined while the focus lies on the role of recycling as an important process that restores environmental balance - the meeting point of these two phenomena is placed in the field of art. The technique for paper recycling by hand, presented here, is viewed as a specific means of expression in plastic artworks of different types. The article not only describes the consecutive stages in the making of hand-recycled paper but it also highlights examples from the international and Bulgarian art scene which testify to the growing popularity of this technique in contemporary visual arts.

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