Artissima 2024

For the 31th edition of Artissima, 1301PE will showcase Pae White’s Carvings (2010) and Momiji (2018) in this year’s Disegni section. Carvings, despite appearing as conventional smoke drawings or prints, are intricately carved pieces of paper. These drawings were created by delicately removing a thin layer of paint from Colour-Aid paper using a laser, akin to a process resembling micro-dermabrasion. Momiji captivates with its organic sprawl of hand-crafted leaves, evoking a sense of natural beauty and transience. White introduced this work during her solo exhibition at the gallery, Smoke Knows in 2009, transforming the space into a hauntingly abandoned living room. Amidst the ambiance of an out-of-commission fireplace, ‘gutter leaves’ reminiscent of those found in wintry gutters adorned the surroundings, blurring the lines between reality and artifice. The gallery became a stage for the remnants of a recently extinguished fire, where tapestries captured wisps of smoke and leaves scattered about. Similarly, Momiji looks as though the leaves are drawn and then cut out. Both Carvings and Momiji exemplify White’s penchant for conjuring narratives of mystery and illusion. In White’s deft hands, drawing transcends its traditional boundaries.