About the Artist

Séverine de La Chapelle is originally from Bordeaux, France. As a child, she would create art with her grandmother, which instilled in her passion for the touch of beautiful materials and fabrics at a young age. In 1995, she enrolled in the École Blot, in Reims, a school of decorative arts, learning many skills she uses today. Moving to Singapore in 2005 expanded Séverine’s artistic horizons. She began studying with a Japanese artist, Maya Takashi, who instantly identified synergies with Séverine’s style and East Asian artistic traditions. Séverine continues to be inspired by traditional and contemporary Asian art, such as the Dansaekhwa artistic movement. In 2016, the family left Singapore for Portugal. During the pandemic, Séverine  rekindled her love of paper as both a support and medium in art. She explored different ways to give texture and relief to paper, with mediums such as acrylic paint, gold leaf, golden wax, and watercolour. Tools in hand, she created her own paper carving technique using thick pure cotton paper and different scalpel blades. All of her work is now created using that technique.

Bas-Relief paper sculpture

About the Art 

Using different scalpel blades and hand movements, I am able to carve the paper in a variety of ways, manipulating its texture to create complex light-dark contrasts. The paper I use is acid free, 100% cotton, 640g/m^2.  Paper has a capacity to reflect light and to carry shadows. I aim to create harmony and energy from the myriad contrasts, textures, and curves of my paper sculpting. My deepest wish is to translate the meditative process of paper carving into a positive, soul healing experience, to remind others of the power of hope and of the resilience they can find within themselves.

I invite you to visit my Instagram page for more content about my artwork.

Featured Artwork

Golden Path, 76x56cm, Bas-relief on Paper with Gold Leaf