Drew Nelson is a Toronto based multidisciplinary artist and designer, with a focus on paper cutting, folding, and engineering. His work draws from traditional papercraft techniques - notably the Japanese crafts of origami, kirigami, and kirie - as well as from the world of movable books and paper toys.

Drew’s current work explores the visual effects and illusions that come from superimposing geometric constructions to create moiré patterns, and layering cut sheets of paper (kirie) to play with hidden colours that subtly come in and out of view. His background in theatrical design and pop-up cards inform the movement through space and time needed to bring his work to life, allowing the viewer to engage with each creation in an ever-changing, playful way. The movement of the viewer is the kinetic energy that fuels the effects in his work.

His work is analog and tactile in a digital age; with the intent to evoke a sense of wonder and joy. 

Inspired by a reading of constrictive poetry, I decided to play a word game with the Toronto Subway station names. The goal was to find as many words (and later initials) from the station names without re-arranging the letters, and then photograph and crop them. The words I came up with were a rather awkward collection, lol, and I had a lot of fun putting them together into poems and visual word play.

The subway tiles evoke so many memories over the years, and are especially personal during this time, when we can’t be together.

The art of cutting paper has been around for centuries, and has developed differently around the globe, in ways that are unique to each culture involved. It is believed to have originated in China in the 4th century, during the Han Dynasty, and developed into the traditional Chinese art of Jianzhi during the 6th century.

My work is heavily influenced by Japanese design, and traditional paper arts and crafts such as origami, kirigami, origamic architecture, and kirie.

The art of Kirie, when translated, simply means: cut picture.

Traditionally, the art of paper cutting is often done with only one sheet of paper. In my recent work I have been layering the cut paper to create a dynamic play with shadows, different viewpoints, hidden colours, and optical ‘tricks’ that appear to create motion when engaging with the work.

In the example below: “Sorry Narwhal Poutine Toque”, the piece looks completely white when standing directly in front. As the viewer moves to the side, a layer of hidden colour is revealed underneath, and at a distance, this colour shapes the silhouette of a maple leaf.

Similarly, in this piece: “Indigo Proud”, the word Indigo is difficult to notice immediately while standing directly in front of the work. Once the viewer moves to the side, they can see the entire spectrum within the letters.