O’Connor, Helen (CAN),
Shelter
shelter
Shelter, inspired by snails and hermit crabs, evolved from my concern for the potential lack of shelter and unsafe environments we may face in the future.
ARTIST STATEMENT
helen o’connor
I am a Canadian Yukon-based interdisciplinary paper and book artist, deeply inspired by the timeless art of handmade paper as well as my Irish roots. My journey making paper by hand began more than 20 years ago during a university printmaking class. It has been a lifelong passion ever since. In exploration of this media, I have traveled extensively to learn and study traditional hand papermaking techniques. Many of these methods have remained unchanged for centuries, even millennia. The paper I make becomes the foundation for a diverse range of artistic expressions, including installation, artist books, sculpture, and wearable art.
I am particularly drawn to the interplay of light and texture, often incorporating lighting into my work to highlight the dynamic, living qualities of handmade paper. Rooted in the landscapes I inhabit, my practice often involves collecting local fibers and plant materials, which imbue my pieces with a strong sense of place and conceptual depth. For me, handmade paper is not just a medium—it is a bridge between the ancient and the contemporary, the natural and the human, and the physical and the spiritual.