When viewing artist Karen Bit Vejle's work, you might think you are looking at delicate pieces of lace fabric. In reality, though, the Norway-based artist carefully hand-cuts each pattern out of paper, using only a pair of scissors. Psaligrafi, or the art of papercutting, is a complex art form that requires patience and intense skill. For more than 35 years, Karen Bit Vejle has mastered this process and, according to her bio, there are very few in Europe who can cut at such an advanced technical and artistic level.
The intriguing patterns and designs are formed from one large, continuous sheet. The artist folds the paper several times, and carefully plans out each snip. She says, “My heart and soul are at peace when I have the scissors in hand and the paper dances between the blades. If my scissors can manage to make you stop and wonder for just one instant, I will be happy.”
