Karen Bit Vejle: Master of Paper-Cut

Danish-Norwegian artist Karen Bit Vejle uses scissors as her brush to create intricate and awe-inspiring works of art with cut paper. The art of psaligraphy hit Europe with the wave of Eastern influence in the 17th century, and famed Danish author Hans Christian Anderson was among its practitioners. The tradition of paper-cutting is particularly strong in Scandinavia, where gaekkebrev, cards with cut-paper snowflakes, are still exchanged by sweethearts each spring, and Bit Vejle has worked to master the medium since she was a young girl. The past couple of years have seen her work grow in scale and sophistication, creating both abstracted floral patterns and enormous narrative tableaux as delicate as lace. Extensive illustrations along with actual inset papercuts creates a stunning document of this unique artist s work. Bit Vejle will be featured this year in a solo exhibition at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis.Arvinius + Orfeus Publishing, Sweden