ANN/THE STAR – In a world where everything is digitalised, a Sarawakian artist Ceres Lau finds satisfaction working with paper.
A recent collaborative project with Scottish beverage company reaffirmed her lifelong passion and what working with paper really represent, Lau said.
“When they approached me and I saw the brief, I was thrilled yet anxious at the same time. It was something very new to me,” she said.
She added working with them make her realise how people value hand-crafted items and “how we put our hearts into everything we make”.
Lau, who draws artistic inspiration from nature and Malaysian cultural events, has come a long way since the beginning of her journey in paper artistry about a decade ago.
Wryly, she said that when people talk about paper, the first thing that comes to mind is either photocopy paper or, worse, toilet paper.
“Paper as a medium was often considered an unappealing and cheap material back then. As an art form, it was far less known than it is today.
“Personally, I was amazed by the unlimited possibilities of paper. You can bend, fold, cut, sculpt and carve on it, basically do anything to transform it.
“Until today, I’m still fascinated by the versatility of this everyday object that we often take for granted.
“I see it as a beautiful medium on its own, even more so when explored and experimented with. Working with paper is both exciting and challenging,” she said.
Trained in graphic design, Lau vividly remembers her childhood experiences playing with paper and making quilled bookmarks for friends.
“When I started college, I began using paper again for my assignments. However, it was not encouraged because I was majoring in graphic design.
“Doing hands-on work was not ‘the thing’. I stopped after that, focusing on digital works instead.
“During my final year in college, I managed to transfer to a university in London.
“It was there I rediscovered paper, with the help and advice of my lecturer. From then on, I responded to all assignments given throughout the year using only paper,” she said.
Despite the encouraging start, Lau faced further obstacles when she returned to Malaysia after graduation.
“I gave in to peer pressure and did not engage with paper for a year or two. I was given small opportunities and slowly started to pick it up again while working three different jobs at a time to support myself.
“It was in 2017 that I decided to dedicate myself fully to paper, and I have been creating with paper since,” she said.
Lau works with various kinds of paper, usually fine commercial paper from GF Smith, Daler Rowney and Takeo, and watercolour paper from Arches.
