

paul kaptein hand carves warped wooden figures with digital glitches

all images courtesy of paul kaptein

paul kaptein continues his work with wood and its material metamorphosis with a recently completed sculpture series presented at new york’s krause gallery from now until january 26, 2016. the perth-based artist, who we previously featured on designboom here, carves laminated wood into figures and faces that are both familiar, and strangely awry at the same time. dramatic contours and warped curves interrupt the traditional human forms, making the sculptures seem as if they been intercepted by a digital software glitch. depending on the vantage point of the viewer, the figures can change from figurative to abstract, with some angles revealing an almost completely typically human body, while others uncover a striking warped effect.



mute figure #1, 2015

laminated, hand carved wood

H68 x W30 x D20



mute figure #1 (back view)



mute figure #1 (side view)



strum the pipa (empty gesture #2), 2015

laminated, hand carved wood

H69 x W9 x D74



strum the pipa (empty gesture #2) – side view



strum the pipa (empty gesture #2) – front view



strum the pipa (empty gesture #2) – detail



with the poise of one entering a black hole for the third time, 2015

laminated, hand carved wood, graphite.

H36 x W44 x D25



with the poise of one entering a black hole for the third time (back view)



with the poise of one entering a black hole for the third time (side view)



with the poise of one entering a black hole for the third time (side view)



mute figure #2, 2015

hand carved wood (basswood – tilia)

H35 x W24 x D15cm



mute figure #2



mute figure #2