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Chapter V Capitolo V

Carta e cartone

Pressed cardboard models in glass cases, newspaper structures — paper as architecture. Modelli in cartoncino pressato dentro teche, strutture in carta di giornale — la carta come architettura.

Paper runs as a thread across Paul's entire practice. In the early 1970s he wraps cardboard structures in newspaper, producing works that look like artefacts dug out of a recently abandoned building. Decades later, in the 2000s, he returns to paper — but now pressed into rigid models, sealed inside glass-and-wood cases like archaeological finds.

The teca works (model in case) are among the most architectural of all his sculptures: they read as scale studies of buildings that were never built, or perhaps were demolished and reduced to a pressed cardboard memory.

What ties the early newspaper works to the late teche is a simple thought: that paper, the most fragile of materials, is also the one most willing to remember.

La carta corre come un filo attraverso tutta la pratica di Paul. All'inizio degli anni Settanta avvolge strutture in cartone con carta di giornale, producendo opere che sembrano reperti tirati fuori da un edificio appena abbandonato. Decenni dopo, negli anni 2000, torna alla carta — ma ora pressata in modelli rigidi, sigillati dentro teche di vetro e legno come reperti archeologici.

Le opere in teca (modello in scatola) sono tra le più architettoniche di tutte le sue sculture: si leggono come studi in scala di edifici che non sono mai stati costruiti, o forse sono stati demoliti e ridotti a una memoria di cartone pressato.

A legare le prime opere in carta di giornale alle ultime teche c'è un pensiero semplice: che la carta, il più fragile dei materiali, è anche quello più disposto a ricordare.

Este texto biográfico está disponible en italiano e inglés. La navegación y las secciones principales están traducidas al español.

Ce texte biographique est disponible en italien et en anglais. La navigation et les sections principales sont traduites en français.

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Paper mural

Paper mural Murale di carta Paper mural Paper mural

Paper installed on wall (Studio Plinio cycle, Rome) Carta installata su parete (ciclo Studio Plinio, Roma) Paper installed on wall (Studio Plinio cycle, Rome) Paper installed on wall (Studio Plinio cycle, Rome)
1974-75 · circa 300×600 cm#70
Newspaper structure

Newspaper structure Struttura in carta di giornale Newspaper structure Newspaper structure

Cardboard covered in newspaper Cartone rivestito di carta da giornale Cardboard covered in newspaper Cardboard covered in newspaper
1970 · 35×21×21 cm#20
Horizontal structure

Horizontal structure Struttura orizzontale Horizontal structure Horizontal structure

Cardboard covered in newspaper Cartone rivestito di carta da giornale Cardboard covered in newspaper Cardboard covered in newspaper
1970 · 11×38×35 cm#21
Paper work

Paper work Opera di carta Paper work Paper work

Cut and marked paper, artist's book Carta tagliata e segnata, libro/quaderno d'artista Cut and marked paper, artist's book Cut and marked paper, artist's book
1975#71
Cardstock model in glass case

Cardstock model in glass case Modello in cartoncino in teca Cardstock model in glass case Cardstock model in glass case

MODELLO in Pressed cardstock DENTRO SCATOLA in VETRO and Wood MODELLO IN CARTONCINO PRESSATO DENTRO SCATOLA IN VETRO E LEGNO MODELLO in Pressed cardstock DENTRO SCATOLA in VETRO and Wood MODELLO in Pressed cardstock DENTRO SCATOLA in VETRO and Wood
2000s#178
Cardstock model in glass case

Cardstock model in glass case Modello in cartoncino in teca Cardstock model in glass case Cardstock model in glass case

MODELLO in Pressed cardstock with blue/grey colour in SCATOLA of VETRO and Wood MODELLO IN CARTONCINO PRESSATO CON COLORE AZZURO/GRIGIO IN SCATOLA DI VETRO E LEGNO MODELLO in Pressed cardstock with blue/grey colour in SCATOLA of VETRO and Wood MODELLO in Pressed cardstock with blue/grey colour in SCATOLA of VETRO and Wood
2000s#179
Paper model in glass case

Paper model in glass case Modello in carta in teca Paper model in glass case Paper model in glass case

MODELLO in Paper in SCATOLA of VETRO and Wood MODELLO IN CARTA IN SCATOLA DI VETRO E LEGNO MODELLO in Paper in SCATOLA of VETRO and Wood MODELLO in Paper in SCATOLA of VETRO and Wood
2000s#181
Paper model in glass case

Paper model in glass case Modello in carta in teca Paper model in glass case Paper model in glass case

MODELLO in Paper in SCATOLA of VETRO and Wood MODELLO IN CARTA IN SCATOLA DI VETRO E LEGNO MODELLO in Paper in SCATOLA of VETRO and Wood MODELLO in Paper in SCATOLA of VETRO and Wood
2000s#182
White model in case

White model in case Modello bianco in teca White model in case White model in case

Pressed cardboard in glass and wood case Cartone pressato in scatola di vetro e legno Pressed cardboard in glass and wood case Pressed cardboard in glass and wood case
2000s · 34×43×33 cm#183
Paper model in glass case

Paper model in glass case Modello in carta in teca Paper model in glass case Paper model in glass case

MODELLO in Paper and cardboard in SCATOLA of VETRO and Wood MODELLO IN CARTA E CARTONE IN SCATOLA DI VETRO E LEGNO MODELLO in Paper and cardboard in SCATOLA of VETRO and Wood MODELLO in Paper and cardboard in SCATOLA of VETRO and Wood
2000s#184
Peperino and wood

Peperino and wood Peperino e legno Peperino and wood Peperino and wood

Cut wood in glass case with peperino LEGNO TAGLIATO IN SCATOLA DI VETRO E PEPERINO Cut wood in glass case with peperino Cut wood in glass case with peperino
2000s#185
Vertical sail structure

Vertical sail structure Struttura verticale a vele Vertical sail structure Vertical sail structure

Painted wood and cardboard Legno e cartone dipinto Painted wood and cardboard Painted wood and cardboard
2000s#192
Model in case

Model in case Modello in teca Model in case Model in case

Pressed cardboard in glass and wood case Cartoncino pressato in scatola di vetro e legno Pressed cardboard in glass and wood case Pressed cardboard in glass and wood case
2000s · 50×39×29.5 cm#42
Blue-grey model in case

Blue-grey model in case Modello azzurro in teca Blue-grey model in case Blue-grey model in case

Pressed cardboard, blue-grey, in glass and wood case Cartoncino pressato azzurro/grigio in scatola di vetro e legno Pressed cardboard, blue-grey, in glass and wood case Pressed cardboard, blue-grey, in glass and wood case
2000s · 63×26.5×28 cm#43
"Paper, the most fragile of materials, is also the one most willing to remember." "La carta, il più fragile dei materiali, è anche quello più disposto a ricordare."
From the archive notesDalle note d'archivio