Video // Statues in Motion by Li Hongbo.

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Click here to watch the embedded video.

In Beijing artist, Li Hongbo’s ‘Statues in Motion’, classical sculptures defy logic. The work pushes our imagination out if its comfort zone and beyond comprehension – carefully sculpted statues don’t move, can’t bend or certainly don’t split into hundreds of layers, as we see. With the disclaimer ‘no special effects are used beyond this point,’ the video is mind blowing.

Without really wanting to ruin the magic…the statues, which look like delicate, carved porcelain, are actually made from soft white paper layered upon each other. Literally thousands of sheets are stacked upon one another before they are carved into the classical forms we think we are so familiar with. Made by replicating the methods used to make traditional Chinese toys and festive decorations known as paper gourds, which are made from glued layers of thin paper and open to reveal a flower or other shape, the statues are actually highly flexible. Li Hongbo’s fascinating sculptures were recently on show at Dominik Mersch Gallery in Australia, as well as at Klein Sun Gallery in New York where the video was made. Amazing.

Watch this fascinating behind-the-scenes video for more.

[Images via Artnau. Video produced by Kid Guy Collective in collaboration with Klein Sun Gallery. Composition by Aled Roberts.]