Louise Paramor’s enormous paper sculptures and sculptures from found plastic are at the Ian Potter Gallery in Federation Square.

The paper sculptures are huge and they remind me of giants’ Christmas decorations. You can see the size  in this photo.

Enormous honeycomb paper sculpture -Ian Potter Gallery

Louise Paramor has called this exhibition, which was commissioned by the NGV  ‘Palace of the Republic’ as she was inspired by German Architecture she saw in Berlin.

There are eight of these enormous honeycombed paper sculptures including a piece that looks rather like a vacuum cleaner hose. It is the honeycombed paper as much as the structures’ shapes that brought Christmas to mind.  Louise, in an interview with the NGV, suggests they resemble garden topiary. When you think about that you can see they are shapes that could be cut into garden shrubs.

Sturdy paper hose,  looking like a vacuum cleaner hose, made from paper

Louise Paramor has  made the honeycomb-paper from scratch.  It is exactly like the honeycomb paper used for festive decorations that are available in party shops except these sculptures are more robust. The paper is of a much better quality. The sculptures have the same ability to be flattened for transport and I guess storage – just like Christmas decorations.

Close up of the honey comb paper

Enormous honeycomb paper constructions

Knowing that Louise made the honeycomb effect herself makes me wonder how the paper for the honeycomb in the red ball I put up at Christmas is made.  Of course these sculptures are huge and there is nothing flimsy about the paper construction.  They fascinate me because of the size and the amount of work that would go into the making of them.  Such beautiful clear bright  colours – I love the colours.  Louise discusses some of this in the interview with NGV.
Wander through these huge pieces and into the next room where Louise Paramour has created smaller sculptures from discarded plastic objects.  They are colourful too and some are ingenious.

Sculptures made from discarded plastic objects

This sculpture is called Gina

This is Valerie

It’s fun to stroll around trying to work out what the pieces were before they were a sculpture.  It is probably the smaller size but these pieces are more comfortable to be with. The colours are cheerful.  Louise has used domestic and commercial discarded plastic in their creation.

What:-   Louise Paramor – ‘Palace of the Republic’  – FREE exhibition
Where:- Ian Potter Gallery Federations Square CBD
Time:-    Until 12th March 2018
Open:-   Daily 10an to 5pm