Local artist-cum-interior designer Benson Lam Iam Sang has put his paper-crafted mythical creatures on show at the Rui Cunha Foundation gallery in Avenida Praia Grande in a nod to Chinese culture for the upcoming Chinese New Year (CNY).
Lam has studied and worked in Barcelona, Madrid, Milan, New York and Hong Kong in the fields of art, interior design and photography and is the author of three photography books on shop window displays and design.
MPD Weekender sat down with Lam over coffee close to the gallery earlier this week to talk about his exhibition entitled “Divine Beasts Paper Art by Benson Lam.”
Lam said that he began to concentrate on paper art 18 months ago when he saw that the concept of low poly designs was very popular in the West but no one had tried to produce a series of “Eastern mythical creatures”.
According to Lam, “Low poly is a style of design that translates an image into a polygon tessellation using three sided polygons. The sharp angles and fractal appearance give the subject a vibrant and striking style.”
Lam said, “As Chinese New Year is approaching and most Chinese people are acquainted with mythical creatures, like dragons and phoenixes, I decided to give it a try.”
Lam’s lead-up to the description of the exhibition states that “the divine beast is a totem-type animal that represents peace and auspiciousness and is a unique expression of Chinese culture. Their appearances are unique, temperamental, sacred, and full of spirituality.”LED lamps to brighten the home
When asked how long it took him to create each piece, Lam said, “For the whole exhibition, probably about three months. I have also made LED lamps that have a very low voltage, there are no wires or bulbs, just a small round circuit board that will not burn or cause a fire as they reach European standards. I have made dogs, a lion cum teddy bear and I am currently working on a lotus flower.”
He went on to say that he makes the lamps and 3D pictures and models for home decorating or shop decor. “I use laser cutting on some of the lamps so that light makes a beautiful pattern on the ceiling as well,” he added. “I have even made a wine bottle holder,” he said.‘Paper has spirit’
“Making things with paper is very eco-friendly, paper is best to work with as you have a sense of texture, quality and spirit,” Lam said.
“I can create designs for all festivals, a rabbit for Easter, a Santa Claus or Christmas tree for Christmas, a dragon or dragon boat for the Dragon Boat Festival. I only use paper, different coloured paper, no paint or anything like that,” Lam said. “Although sometimes I use printed paper, like the two koi carp I have done, one with Portuguese tile-like paper and the other with a Chinese style paper to represent Macau,” he added.3 computer programmes help out
When asked how he went about creating his 3D art, Lam said, “First I draw what I want to turn into 3D art, then I use three types of computer software, one a 3D modelling to get the low poly effect, then I use ratio topology, which works out the angles and sizes of the polygons. Otherwise, it would take ages to work out the measurements yourself. Third, I use a programme that is called unfold, that flattens the design, that I can then print and cut so that I can assemble it,” Lam explained.
Plan to help communities
Lam said that, “Most arts and crafts teachers in schools find it hard to get materials for their classes, so I thought of a way that I could help teachers solve this problem, while engaging the pupils in fun art.
“I have an idea of making up pre-cut packages, with all the designs ready to assemble with a full list of instructions, like joining the numbers together, that the teachers can get their pupils to do. They only need to work out where to start.
“I think the designs would just be plain paper and the pupils could then be encouraged to be creative and paint or colour them, or just put them in a picture frame and paint the background.”
Lam continued, “I would like to organise workshops in Macau and have been talking to dragon and lion dance associations to cooperate with them on promotional events and do workshops as many kids are learning martial arts, so it would be fun for them to make their lions or dragons [in 3D].”
Lam went on, “I have even thought of taking my ideas to other Southeast Asian countries to get people interested and encourage them to make things related to their own culture. Perhaps even setting up workshops where, say, disabled people in Thailand could make the kits and sell them to help with their lives.”
Admission is free to the exhibition, which is open from Mondays to Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., until February 1.
Benson Lam explains how he makes the 3D models at the Rui Cunha Foundation gallery on Tuesday. Photo:Kristy Chan
