Lisa Nilsson / Tissue Series

 

Lisa Nilsson‘s Tissue Series is crafted entirely from mulberry paper and the gilded edges of old books, each anatomical cross-section quilled to detailed perfection. Check out the detail in the last image below to get a better idea of what goes into even a small section of work. (Seems satisfying, doesn’t it?)

They are constructed by a technique of rolling and shaping narrow strips of paper called quilling or paper filigree. Quilling was first practiced by Renaissance nuns and monks who are said to have made artistic use of the gilded edges of worn out bibles, and later by 18th century ladies who made artistic use of lots of free time. I find quilling exquisitely satisfying for rendering the densely squished and lovely internal landscape of the human body in cross section.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted In create, paper