Congratulations to Lela Arruza for earning her place a Winner in the Boynes Artist Award 9th Edition [Emerging Artist category]!

Who are you?

My name is Lela Arruza and I am an adopted Chinese-American artist based in North Carolina. I have just completed my B.F.A. in studio art with a concentration in ceramics and a business minor.

*“Decorative Bowl 8,732”*
*Paper*
*By Lela Arruza*

What inspired you to utilize sculpture as a medium, and specifically paper?

For as long as I can remember I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands. I find myself gravitating towards mediums I can grasp and manipulate such as clay, metal, and paper. However, during the pandemic period I experimented primarily with paper due to studio space and art material limitations. The versatility and accessibility of paper has made it the ideal medium to work with. My initial fascination with paper and more specifically origami began in elementary school where I would check out origami craft books from the school library and watch instructional videos on Youtube. Whether it was through art, music, or food, I wanted to learn about my Asian background anyway I could. Since then, my elementary paper crafts have evolved into these more elaborate paper vessels.

How would you describe your work?

My current body of work contrasts the historical longevity of ceramics with the ephemerality of paper. The knowledge I’ve gained from my ceramic classes has crossed over into my paper work through form and pattern. I utilize a method of origami called Golden Venture Folding to create a series of paper vessels inspired by Chinese porcelain ceramics. Each piece I make displays my interest in intricate and clean design, but also focuses on exploring my own identity and place.

Historical context behind my work:

Golden Venture Folding was popularized in 1993 when a ship called the Golden Venture ran aground on Rockaway Beach, New York. Many of the 286 migrants onboard were from China’s Fujian Province, and due to strict immigration policies at the time, they were placed in prison. During their imprisonment, many folded and assembled various paper sculptures which were sold or donated to those who supported them. In 2017, there was an exhibition at the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) that showcased numerous sculptures from those detained in York, Pennsylvania. The rich cultural history behind Golden Venture folding contains aspects of craft and community evident in my own work. Each piece I make displays my interest in intricate and clean design, but also focuses on exploring my own identity and place within my community. The recycled printer paper I use to form the origami pieces are hand torn and folded to encapsulate the memories of those I obtained the papers from. I am interested in how representations of individual units, people, and experiences can come together to create something much bigger than oneself.

*“Tulip Vase 5,952”*
*Paper*
*By Lela Arruza*

Can you discuss the inspiration and thought process behind your winning work?

The piece that won was the Double Gourd Vase 7,572:

This piece is inspired by Chinese gourd shaped bottles from the Ming period. Bottle gourds were originally used in China to hold medicine. These ceramic gourds ranged in size depending on their function. The ceramic gourd from the Yüan period depicted above was used as a decorative vase rather than a functional vessel. Many of my paper vessels resemble and take inspiration from Asian ceramics.

The octagonal structure of the double vase assisted in maintaining the geometric design and network of additional pieces. Each row of the paper vase is divisible by eight to replicate the ceramic version’s eight segments. The complex phoenix and floral design of the original was too intricate to condense into the paper version, so I chose to decorate the vessel with petals that accentuate the architecture of the vase. When making my paper vessels do not use any glue, and I build in parts that can sit upon each other so they can be taken apart and easily transported.

*“Double Gourd Vase 7,572”*
*Paper*
*By Lela Arruza*

Can you walk us through the technical steps of creating your winning work?

Torn

Golden Venture Folding begins with a standard 8.5’’ x 11’’ sheet of printer paper. The paper is folded in half and torn along the fold producing two equal halves. These resulting pieces are folded and torn in half again. Repeat this process until 32 rectangles are produced.

Folded

1. Fold the paper in half along the long side.

2. Fold the edges of the paper to meet along the halfway mark making a V-shaped point at the bottom.
3. Flip the piece.

4. On each of the rectangular pieces fold the corners down to meet the top edge of the triangle.

5. Fold the overhanging pieces down to be flush with the edge of the triangle.
6. Finally, fold the triangle in half.

What do you hope to communicate to an audience with your work?

My paper vessel series is focused on identity, healing, and community. I’ve gone through a personal art journey through this series as I have researched the history of Asian paper craft and traditional Chinese porcelain. I hope that culture, craft, and identity are communicated through my work as well as the time, detail, and perseverance that goes into each piece. I’ve had comments that my work often resembles a 3D print at first glance, but once viewers realize that each piece within the vessel is individually torn and folded it gives the work an entirely different meaning.

Can you talk about your biggest learning experience during the process of creating your work?

My favorite aspect of using Golden Venture Folding is that once you learn how to fold the individual piece, you can make pretty much anything as long as you have enough pieces folded. In my paper vessel series I title each vessel according to the number of pieces it took to build them. Each new vessel I start there is always a huge learning curve. If I have a particular shape or form in mind, I experiment with adding or subtracting pieces in each layer to manipulate how the vessel grows. There have also been times I’ve scrapped the piece entirely and taken everything apart. This is one of the reasons I choose not to use any glue or adhesives. When working on patterning I am constantly building and taking apart to achieve the intricate design I want. Since my color patterns are integrated directly into the form of the vessel and not painted on top like ceramics, it has been a challenge to execute.

*“Peony Vase 9,279”*
*Paper*
*By Lela Arruza*

Can you discuss your biggest success since starting your artistic journey?

I think my biggest success so far has been completing my BFA. When I was in high school I knew I wanted to study art and pursue it as a future career, but I was faced with the reality of financially supporting myself through that process. I am incredibly grateful for the academic scholarship that allowed me to complete my degree without worry about the financial aspect. While studying studio art I had an incredible community of professors who mentored me and classmates who did life with me.

*“10,000 V. 1”*
*Paper*
*By Lela Arruza*

What projects are you working on currently?

The paper vessels I’ve just finished for my senior BFA show and thesis are sprinkled throughout this interview, but I am currently experimenting with some other paper forms. I enjoy playing with pushing the limits to what paper can do sculpturally. I also hope to make more paper works with color and pattern.

*“10,000 V. 1 Detail”*
*Paper*
*By Lela Arruza*

What is your dream project or piece you hope to accomplish?

My dream project is to host a community gathering or workshop where people can come and learn to fold these pieces. I’d love to do a community installation project on a larger scale. Since thousands of pieces are necessary to make these paper vessels, I can only imagine how large you could build with more hands.

As a winner, do you have any advice for artists who want to submit to awards, competitions, residencies, etc.?

Don’t be afraid to apply to something because you’re not sure about the results. Taking the time to fill out an application can change your life.

*“10,000 V. 2”*
*Paper*
*By Lela Arruza*

Lastly, I like to ask everyone what advice they would give to their fellow artists, what is your advice?

Become a part of the community. Life is all about relationships and connections. Surround yourself with other artists and mentors who can support you through your journey.

To view more of Lela Arruza

Website

Instagram

Artist Lela Arruza