I found Matt Shlian’s work while surfing Youtube. I’m a big fan of paper engineering and after seeing the way he makes paper move, I had to know more!
How did you get into paper engineering?
My studies in paper engineering began the way we often find our passion; it starts in the peripheral, something casually noticed and then slowly becomes central and soon the focal point of one’s the world. Nearly ten years ago at Alfred University, I occupied two studios: one in the printmaking department and the other in ceramics. However, I effectively managed not to make any traditional prints or ceramic work that year. Instead I focused on learning the art of paper engineering. I made large-scale digital prints then carefully worked them with cuts, scores, and creases to achieve a third dimension. The pieces would not become dynamic until the viewer chose to interact with them. The folds I was using, unknown to me at the time, were the building blocks of paper engineering. Right after I graduated I was hired as a “Paper Engineer” working in Essex Connecticut- I designed greeting cards, pop up book type ads, and all manner of movable paper whatnot.
What’s your process like from idea to execution?
My process is extremely varied from piece to piece. Often I start without a clear goal in mind, working within a series of limitations. For example on one piece I’ll only use curved folds, or make my lines this length or that angle etc. Other times I being with an idea for movement and try to achieve that shape or form somehow. Along the way something usually goes wrong and a mistake becomes more interesting than the original idea and I work with that instead. I’d say my starting point is curiosity; I have to make the work in order to understand it. If I can completely visualize my final result I have no reason to make it- I need to be surprised.
On the technical side I use all sorts of tools to make my work- copy paper, fox river corando acid free archival paper, PVA glue, #11 xacto knives, Autocad R13, and a Graphtec fc4200-50 Flatbed plotter cutter.
Who or what has been inspiring you lately?
I try not to look at people making work similar to mine. I am a sponge and won’t remember seeing something, and then think I came up with it a few months later. Instead I draw inspiration for unlikely sources; solar cell research, protein misfolding, Brian Eno, Matthew Goulish and Goat Island, Lothar Meggendorfer, Vojtech Kubasta, El-P, Daniel Libeskind, Thea Eck, Dondi White, Christian Marclay, Ren Weschler, Buckminster Fuller, George Hrycun, Stephan Sagmeister, Edward R. Tufte, etc.
Do you have any advice for people interested in learning more about paper mechanics?
I would recommend buying pop up books and dissecting them. I used to buy two copies of the same book and take one apart to figure out how it worked, the other I’d save as reference in case I couldn’t get the first back together. There are also a few great books on the basics of Paper engineering. The Pocket Paper Engineer
Make sure to checkout Matt’s website, blog, and youtube channel to learn more!