Paper stained glass
handmade Japanese paper (kozo), thread, 9.5 x 9.5 in (each, 56 panes)
handmade paper (abaca and flax), graphite, thread, 15.5 x 10.5 in
cyanotype on handmade paper (abaca, flax and kozo), thread, Plexiglas boxes, plinth, 54 x 24 x 24 in
handmade paper (abaca and flax), graphite, thread, 69 x 72 in
Photo credit: Guy L’Heureux
Photo credit: Jean-Michael Seminaro
I divided my image into 24 rectangular panels that I completed separately before assembling them. Each of these panels contains about 100 pieces. Here you can see my patterns with the pieces numbered in purple.
the first two completed panels, photographed on a light table
Paper stained glass
These works are constructed the way a stained glass would be, by cutting pieces of different translucent coloured sheets, and assembling them to generate the drawing.
I make the translucent paper either by forming thin sheets from kozo fibres using the Japanese technique, or by using flax or abaca fibres that I beat in a Hollander beater for extended periods of time (between 7 and 14 hours). Colours are achieved by pigmentation. I dry the sheets in different ways to obtain various textures.
I join the paper fragments by sewing them together. In Just pretend, the folding around the edges of each piece produces opaque outlines blocking the light thus creating a network of dark lines reminiscent of the lead came in glass windows. Details of the faces and hands are drawn with graphite. In The sixth room of the apartment, the geometric pattern is inspired by a traditional Quebec quilt. This pattern is revealed when light shines through. For the lighter areas, a single layer of paper is used, while three layers are overlaid to create the darker areas, and two for the intermediate tones.
A special thanks to Danie who helped me enormously in this lengthy and meticulous work.