French duo Lucie Thomas and Thibault Zimmermann of the graphic studio Zim & Zou are back with more spectacular paper sculptures that are cut and assembled entirely by hand. Their latest work, called Paper Rebirth, features a stunning phoenix sculpture made out of flame-colored scraps of paper. Delicately cut pieces of paper form rows of feathers that cover the body of the phoenix, giving the sculpture a marvelous sense of texture and three-dimensional shape. From the intricate chest plumage to the swooping tail feathers, the fiery sculpture is a masterpiece of craft and skill.
The project was created as a part of a campaign to encourage recycling in Paris. Thomas and Zimmermann decided to construct a phoenix out of recycled paper, saying, “The Phoenix was a perfect mythological animal to symbolize that paper can have up to 5 lives thanks to recycling.”
Although the artists first met in art school when they both studied graphic design, now their favorite choice of medium is paper. According to the duo, their “choice of paper is due to the versatility and good quality of the material, especially when it is sculpted and photographed.” Thomas and Zimmermann manage to produce exquisitely crafted artworks from the humble material, creating everything from colorful animals to delicate plants to 3D illustrations.
