Benja Harney

Benja Harney

Title: Queen Victoria Building Spring Paper Flower Installation

Media: Paper

Dimensions: 40ft high

Date: 2012

   Brief Bio: According to Harney’s web site, paperform.com, Benja Harney is a self taught paper engineer based in Sydney. His love of using paper as a medium reflects his passion for contradiction “strong/delicate_comple/simple.” Through his business, Paperform, Harney has “been dedicated to engineering high-end pop-up books and crisp paper constructions professionally for 6 years”. In January of 2012 he was recognized by the Sydney Music, Art & Culture (SMAC) Awards as Sydney’s Best Visual Artist.

   Artists/Critique statement: In an interview found on thedesignfiles.net, Harney has this to say about paper “I think it has a simplicity that really speaks to us in this modern digital world. It’s like playing and kind of reminds people of childhood I guess. People love to dream about those creative times. Plus, I think people love to see just how creative one can be with a flat piece of paper!”

   Background on work presented: According to Harney’s web site, Paperform.com, his installation was commissioned for the Art and About festival in Sydney, Australia. The installation was accompanied by floral scents placed throughout the work making it ‘interactive’.

   How it connects to the theme and why you chose the work: These amazing paper creations not only take up all the space in the room, but also all the space in my mind when I think of my paper garden. This installation allows you to experience flowers in way reality cannot supply you with. This installation is the heart of my paper garden Mecca.