Atención: Art Talks - Interview With Terry Tomlinson

By Pascual Hijuelos

Paper has long been regarded the handmaiden for conveying the written word and visual imagery. Its rich history spans over 2,000 years, originating in ancient China. From its inception in China, paper has evolved to become both a physical object and a central theme in the world of art. Terry Tomlinson, an artist specializing in paper-based creations, has been crafting remarkable art using paper for 23 years. Her extensive experience culminated in a recent   retrospective exhibition titled "Reimagining Paper" at the Museo de Arte de Querétaro. Terry studied painting and sculpture at the Art Student’s League in NYC. In the late 1960s, she became an active member of the artist community in Woodstock, NY.  It was in 1995, when Terry arrived in San Miguel de Allende to pursue bronze casting, that she stumbled upon the magical pulperizing world of paper making.  Since then, she has been captivated by the art form and has never looked back.

During lunch recently Terry and I had the opportunity to explore her perspectives on art and her insights as an artist.

When did you start using paper as a primary element in your art? In 2002 I started hand papermaking. It became my obsession. As a creative vehicle, the possibilities were endless and stimulated my imagination in ways that traditional mediums like painting and sculpture had not.

Terry what were the characteristics of paper that allured you? I am constantly inspired by the beauty and infinite variety of texture, color and form. When making paper I feel connected to nature in a direct way. The paper undergoes a metamorphosis evolving from its original plant form into a work of art. I use Nagashizuki, an ancient paper making technique, in much of the paper art I make which displays the more refined qualities and ethereal beauty of handmade paper. The fragile and ephemeral qualities of paper are a reminder that all life is impermanent. Paper has become a vehicle to express my deepest feeling which might otherwise go unseen.

How did your evolvement with paper lead to a greater interest in mixed media ideas? My process includes casting, embedding and collaging the paper I make with a variety of materials such as light, kinetics, wax, minerals and metals. Mixed media is an integral part of the handmade paper art I make. 

Terry by using paper and mixed media what are you trying to say? Using abstracted imagery and minimal content with natural materials, I aim to explore the profound spiritual connection that units all living things. To me handmade paper’s fragility serves as metaphor for the impermanence of all life and its inevitable transformative rhythm. 

You had an installation piece at the museum. Do you frequently do installations?

Lately, I’ve been increasingly drawn to creating installations as a means of captivating the viewer in a more dynamic manner. My "Dreams of Medusae" installation at Macro, for instance, allows the audience to immerse themselves in the art, offering a unique opportunity to imagine the sensation of being underwater with jellyfish in an abstracted, dreamlike setting.

Which artists have influenced your work? Eva Hesse was and continues to be my greatest inspiration. Others like Jackson Pollock, Odilon Redon, Richard Serra, Noguchi and various Japanese artists each inspired me in different ways

Terry your work is delicate and ethereal. Does it appeal more to man or women or both? My work appeals more to women. It is ethereal, delicate, sensitive, appears fragile yet it is very strong, I use various feminine themes like eggs, nests, seeds and abstracted female forms. My art is not bold nor the appearance of strength which might appeal more to men.

As a mature artist, how has your work changed over the years? My work continues to

become more abstracted and minimal. I feel that we all see things differently and by abstracting my messages, I leave much more to the imagination of the viewer. As I progress, I want to say more with my art. Mothers of War, a sculpture with 16 crying handmade paper faces, was inspired by events in the Middle East is dedicated to all mothers of war. Dreams of Medusae Immersion Experience, a large multimedia installation, is not only a unique visual experience. It is an invitation to reflect on the ecological and medical significance and the risk of overpopulation that jellyfish pose to the environment.

Thank you, Terry.

Cuban-American Pascual Hijuelos divides his time between San Miguel de Allende  and New York City. pascualhijuelos.art