Torn Paper Paintings (Chigiri-e)
Chigiri-e is a Japanese technique, hundreds of years old, which uses hand-made papers and glues, along with the "energy" released from the "tearing" of the paper, to create two dimensional paintings. Classically, these images are made with Japanese Rice or Washi papers, some transparent, some with varying degrees of opacity, many hand-painted, which when completed look very much like watercolors. Common subject matter are flowers, sea and mountain landscapes, and animals.
Having been introduced to this technique several years ago, I recently began adding newsprint ad copy, and especially newspaper photographs to the classic Japanese papers, to create "torn paper" collages that are a little different than the typical Chigiri-e paintings - less transparent perhaps, and a bit broader in scope and theme. My technique first involves the 'deconstruction' of words and/or photos by "tearing", not cutting, the originals into pieces of various sizes (a process which I believe is non-random but not entirely under my own direction, if that makes any sense), and reconstructing new images from the torn pieces - images which often have little to do with the intent of the original photograph or story that contained it. I then use the Japanese Rice and Washi papers to highlight the new images, or to infuse color, texture or transparency to the final work. My pieces are abstract, landscape, figurative, and everything in-between, and emerge quite on their own as the work progresses.
This new technique has allowed me to work in a less confined way, certainly with less planning than the oil and acrylic paintings and drawings I was used to doing. And while I still turn out the occasional painting or sketch, I find these torn paper collages to be more fulfilling in the creative sense, less confining, more free if you will, revealing their direction and intent only as each piece of paper is chosen, torn and added to the mix.
I hope that you enjoy looking at these, and that you will read and learn more about the Japanese art of Chigiri-e.
Best Wishes,
Steve Palumbo
