METAL-GAMI
For this project, Peter says "It was about rendering something inanimate and fragile, and giving longevity to the Origami and Kirigami I created"
MANTA RAYS I & II
Peter Viet Lu’s ‘Metal-Gami’ were inspired by an earlier project which involved paper models, drawing, painting and photography. He wished to transform the fragile and motionless Origami and Kirigami paper shapes he had crafted into something with durability and permanence.
Peter loves working with his hands and was thrilled by the prospect of metal fabrication and welding, to turn paper into steel, and to interpret his drawings back to their 3D format.
He used various materials, such as steel, oak, spray-paint, vinegar, salt, and hydrogen peroxide, to create steel sculptures of Manta Rays. It was important for him to make something that he felt was sleek and beautiful, while also presenting the Manta Ray as a living object, and giving it a playful aspect.
Peter showcases their natural beauty and contrast of the materials giving the sculptures a weathered look and a distinctive character. The steel rod and plinth are also unique for each sculpture, they allow the owner to swivel the Manta Ray in any direction. As a result, the sculptures have subtle differences in their tails and wings, making them one of a kind.
His project aims to demonstrate the art and science of metal-gami, and to explore the possibilities of transforming paper into metal. He hopes to inspire others to appreciate the beauty and diversity of nature, and to challenge themselves to create something new and original.
