PAPETAL, AKA
JENNIFER TRAN
I came to love crafting while making a
paper bouquet for my friend’s surprise
birthday party. I got so into it that within
the first three months, I’d hand-crafted
hundreds of experiments, then shortly
after, I established Papetal! Nowadays,
I call myself a ‘flowersmith’ – I make
paper flowers for use in advertising,
window displays and at corporate events.
I mostly work with crepe paper. I like
how it’s flexible, easy to manipulate and
really durable. I can cut, curl and ‘cup’
(or stretch) three to five petals at once,
and they still hold their shape. On top of
that, crepe paper is easy to fix – if I make
a mistake, the process can be reversed.
Plus, textured paper can deliver quite a
bold and dramatic effect for photoshoots
and window displays.Before creating a paper flower, I examine
a real flower very closely. I dissect it layer
by layer to fully understand its structure –
how the centre is formed, how the petals
are distributed, and how attachments
like leaves and buds are arranged. After
the initial study, I then experiment with
different materials and methods of
construction. Sometimes, I get it right
first go. Other times, it takes weeks or
months to arrive at a version I’m happy
with. My paper dahlia, for instance, was
so complex that it took me a few years
and four to five different versions to
finally get right!
Aside from paper, I use organic materials
in my work, such as coffee grounds
and turmeric as a substitute for dirt
and pollen. When I was at university, I
remember spending days just playing
with materials, breaking things apart,
examining their sculptural qualities
and finding ways to manipulate them.
My artistic strength is in my versatility.
I can change from one style to another
overnight, depending on the project brief.
I love collaborating on commercial
projects with advertising agencies,
stylists and photographers. It’s the best
way to learn. Recently, I worked on a
dream project. We shot in an open field,
under natural light and surrounded by
giant floating flowers. It was magical!creative people