Slash: Paper Under the Knife

Slash: Paper Under the Knife explores the international phenomenon of cut paper in contemporary art-showcasing the work of artists who reach beyond the traditional role of paper as a neutral surface to consider its potential as a medium for provocative, expressive, and visually striking sculpture, installation, and video animation.

Organized by the Museum of Arts and Design, Slash features work by approximately 50 contemporary artists from sixteen countries, including Thomas Demand, Olafur Eliasson, Tom Friedman, Nina Katchadourian, Judy Pfaff, and Kara Walker, among others.

Curated by the Museum's Chief Curator, David Revere McFadden, Slash is the third exhibition in MAD's Materials and Process series, which examines the renaissance of traditional handcraft materials and techniques in contemporary art and design.

"Despite the many new materials and technologies available to artists working today, we are seeing a wonderful trend in which more and more artists are turning back to age-old materials like paper to really push new boundaries in art," said Holly Hotchner, the Nanette L. Laitman Director of the Museum.

"The artists in this exhibition do not just see paper as a work surface.

They've considered paper's inherent properties and devised ways of transforming this ubiquitous material into extraordinary sculptures, room-sized installations, and animations.

I think our visitors will be surprised and delighted by what can be done with paper."