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THE COLLECTION II

For the second time SOFIA PAPER ART FEST will present an exhibition at ОNE MONEV Gallery. The artist, Jo McDonald from Scotland, was awarded last year by the AMATERAS International Competition at ONEMONEV Gallery. The award is an independent project that can show an interesting world, created by the artist and her fairy tales in paper. The choice of this artist is in unison with the trends, which the gallery supports- innovation, conceptual vision and contemporary messages. 

Jo McDonald is not an unknown artist for the fans of paper art. She is a two-time winner of awards at the annual competition in 2013 and is distinct with light romanticism intertwined with conceptual idea. Scotland is a country of fairy tales and this is part of the artist’s concept. Here is what she says herself about her art:

“My work is about history and story-telling. From an early age, I have been fascinated by books and story-telling. I remember the excitement of a weekly treat, of choosing a book from our local booksellers. For me, reading was a great comfort. I ventured into a world of escapism, where I had a certain amount of control over the adventure. As an adult, I have not lost this fascination with the written word. In my work, I have extensively experimented with traditional tapestry weaving techniques using paper as as alternative medium to the customary wools and threads. I use second-hand books and printed matter, and their built-in history is the attraction for me.

The objects already contain traces of the past - fingerprints, skin, dedications, scribbled notes – which offer us a glimpse into their earlier life. I de-construct the books, and make them into new structures, which still contain their original history, but which now have a new visual form.

The visual look is paramount: it is about the pattern of letters, the colour and quality of the paper as it ages, and the edges. The discovery of how a material can be manipulated – the qualities and possibilities of the paper itself – excites me.

I am intrigued by the memories particular texts hold for us. When stories are told, and continue to be retold through generations, they are not forgotten. They become the memory of who we were”

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