Warren King’s magnificent cardboard sculptures are nothing short of awe-inspiring! Imagine taking a material as mundane as cardboard and turning it into a life-size tribute to your ancestors. That’s exactly what King has done, channeling his emotional ties and creative genius into an extraordinary series of sculptures. Six years ago, he embarked on a soul-stirring trip to China, visiting the village where his family had lived for generations. Remarkably, villagers there recalled his grandparents, who had left over 50 years ago due to the Chinese Civil War. Fueled by this emotional experience, King set out to recreate the residents of his grandparents’ home village one figure at a time using just cardboard and glue. The results are stunning – these abstract forms speak volumes, each figure meticulously constructed yet intentionally left hollow and unfinished at the back to symbolize both the fragility and resilience of his cultural connections.
What sets King’s work apart is not just the material but the deeply personal journey it represents. His sculptures are more than mere shapes; they’re vessels of memory and legacy, capturing the essence of people he knows only through fragmented histories. The raw, unrefined texture of the cardboard poignantly mirrors the interconnectedness and gaps in his ancestral storytelling. Each sculpture carries a sense of incompletion, highlighting the challenges of bridging gaps in understanding one’s past. The series is an ongoing testament to his dedication and passion, revealing that art can be a powerful medium for exploring identity and heritage. It’s as if, through each carefully crafted figure, King is piecing together parts of himself and honoring those who came before him.
More info: Website, Flickr, Instagram (h/t: Forbes, Designboom).
