Japanese design studio Nendo created a series of 3D-printed objects, derived from pure outlines of a paper without actually using paper itself. Nendo's new visual exploration searches for new forms of paper as a new medium to express their ideas. Exhibited at Tokyo's Creation Gallery G8, Nendo wanted to work with paper but approach it from a different angle.

Animation by Yusuke Fujikawa (Fuji Television Network, Inc.)

Image © Takumi Ota

Named Un-printed material, the studio worked both by hand and with a 3D printer, and created outlines of paper as an expression of that paper without actually using paper itself. Some of the outlines display rounding, while others show signs of the paper having once been folded. 

In another, when the paper is torn away, the torn section appears to have feathery layers with fibers. By zeroing in on the finer details and carefully representing them in the outlines, we attempted to capture that unique essence of paper that we have all felt at one time or another.

Image © Takumi Ota

The gallery consists of three rooms. In the first, 30 sheets of A1-sized posters with outlines measuring 3mm thick are suspended in space, with torn or folded pieces scattered throughout. In the second room, multiple series of large postcard-sized paper with 1mm-thick outlines each show five different stages within the process of that paper being modified in some way. 

Image © Takumi Ota

In the final room, outlines are used in the same way to represent 3D objects that are made of paper, such as paper bags, milk cartons, paper cups, and origami figures. An animated film that provides hints about what the outlines represent plays in the room in an attempt to stimulate the imaginations of visitors. 

Image © Takumi Ota

The title of the exhibition – un-printed material – is a play on the term “printed material” that alludes to the concept of the designs. Nendo's Un-printed Material exhibition can be visited until 17 November 2016 at the Creation Gallery G8 in Ginza, Tokyo. 

Image © Takumi Ota

Image © Takumi Ota

Image © Takumi Ota

Image © Takumi Ota

A1 poster. Image © Akihiro Yoshida

A5 document. Image © Akihiro Yoshida

Objects. Image © Akihiro Yoshida

Objects. Image © Akihiro Yoshida

Top image © Takumi Ota

> via Nendo