As the world becomes more digital, the past decade has seen a new appreciation to tangible art forms. While most creators rely on a computer these days, paper artists lean on ancient techniques, breathing new life into a traditional practice that is based on dexterity and patience.
Such are French paper artists Lucie Thomas and Thibault Zimmermann. Known collectively as Zim & Zou, their creations are made entirely by hand—from planning and drawing to cutting and assembling. Describing themselves as “paper pirates”, their creations are a celebration of color and form.
“We decided to use paper in many of our projects because not only is it a basic material, accessible for everyone, but because it’s a way to show the balance of power between digital and paper production,” the duo explained in an interview with Don’t Panic. “When today you can read a book on a screen, we needed to create ‘real’ things.”
The pieces themselves, though varied, have a playfulness to them that adds to their commercial appeal. In one series, titled Back to Basics, the two pay homage to the forgotten technologies of the ’80s and ’90s. “The aspect of craftsmanship is really important for us and paper gives us an infinite amount of possibilities,” say Zim & Zou.
With ten years of experience behind them, crafting paper installations for high profile clients as well as more personal projects, the two have become well acquainted with paper. According to Zim & Zou, paper allows for easy manipulation that can give rise to intricate and colorful sculptures.
