MELBOURNE BOTANIC GARDENS INSPIRED PROMINENT PAPER SCULPTOR RAY BESSERDIN’S ‘PAPER LANDSCAPES’

The Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne and Cranbourne inspired a series of astounding three-dimensional sculptured paper artworks, ‘Paper Landscapes’, by internationally-acclaimed paper sculptor, Ray Besserdin. So impressive are the works that one – The Path to Gondwana – was awarded the Gold Medal for Creativity in late 2018 by the 40 very tough judges from the Mondial Art Academia in France.

Ray’s ‘Paper Landscapes’ will be exhibited at the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens, from July 20 to August 4. The works are Ray’s impression of wandering through each of the gardens, enjoying the flora and fauna of their unique landscaped areas.

For over 30 years, Ray has been sculpting works using papers made from cotton, hemp, mulberry fibres – and more. Some paper is thick. Others are delicate. And some are almost as fine as gossamer. Every one has unique properties that turn Rays’ dreams into inspired works that leave you wondering how paper could possibly be the only medium he has used.

Ray refers to his work as “Impressionistic Sculptured Paper” because it captures emotive responses. “I want my work to speak to the viewers’ hearts”, Ray says.

His work has earned him a slew of awards. In addition to his Mondial Academia Gold Medal, he’s been recognised in Australia and internationally, with 24 awards to date. These include a gold in New York for a Macquarie Bank corporate commission and a first in the Nature Category 3D of the LightSpaceTime Gallery in Florida. In Australia he won the People’s Choice Award, National Works On Paper 2018 at the MPRG in Victoria.

Ray’s corporate clients include Macquarie Bank Australia, Amcor Australia, Ford Motor Company and the Northern Territory Government Australia. Privately-owned works hang in London, Munich, Manhattan, New Zealand and widely throughout Australia.

The exhibition is presented by the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and Ray Besserdin.

Exhibition Details

Location: Cranbourne Royal Botanic Gardens, Ballarto Road and Botanic Drive, Cranbourne VIC 3977 Dates: Saturday July 20 to Sunday August 4, 2019

Times: 10am to 4pm On Tuesday 23 July at 11 am, Ray will give a talk. Don’t miss your chance to meet this acclaimed artist and find out the methods he uses to create his astounding works.

Admission: FREE.