Paper Cuts is an interactive paper sculpture that invites people to experience the world’s most recognizable instrument of death, head first. However, unlike it’s deadly ancestor, this blade offers nothing more final than a paper cut.

The guillotine became part of popular culture during France’s Reign of Terror (1793-94) and the subsequent French Revolution. While used well into modern times throughout other European countries the last time it was used for official business was in France was 1977.

This experience brings a new twist to this infamous apparatus while arousing people’s natural fascination for the macabre. It will transform a powerful and oppressive symbol of death into a thing of beauty. Delicate, inviting and something people may even line up for. Voluntarily this time.

And every time the paper blade falls a camera will be triggered to capture the expression of the those who have put their neck on the line for an art experience like no other. Each fearful facial expression, forever immortalized on the PaperCuts-Exhibtion.com.

This piece is the first collaboration between artists Mandy Smith and Hal Kirkland. What began as a simple creative sit-down in an Amsterdam bar eventually manifested into the 3.8-meter behemoth it is today.

Mandy had always been disturbed by the idea of capital punishment since she was young and had begun to play with the idea of creating a series of deadly devices while juxtaposing them with the fragility and beauty of paper art. Hal suggested creating one at full-size, transforming the piece into a sculpture that allowed paper art – an art form usually too delicate to touch – to become inherently interactive. Both artists unified their craft, interactive skills sets and before long Paper Cuts was born.

Paper Cuts launched at one of Amsterdam’s most historic locations, De Waag on March 1st, following that it appear next at the Pick Me Up - Graphic Arts Festival Design at Somerset House - London, March 5th. Currently it resides at Stadtmuseum Aarau and is on loan from for the exhibition alongside the actual blade from the French Revolution.

Photography:

Stadtmuseum Aarau - Cedric Christopher Merkli
Somerset House - Aaron Tilley
Amsterdam’s Waag - Dario Fusnecher

Paper Cuts is an interactive paper sculpture that invites people to experience the world’s most recognizable instrument of death, head first. However, unlike it’s deadly ancestor, this blade offers nothing more final than a paper cut.

The guillotine became part of popular culture during France’s Reign of Terror (1793-94) and the subsequent French Revolution. While used well into modern times throughout other European countries the last time it was used for official business was in France was 1977.

This experience brings a new twist to this infamous apparatus while arousing people’s natural fascination for the macabre. It will transform a powerful and oppressive symbol of death into a thing of beauty. Delicate, inviting and something people may even line up for. Voluntarily this time.

And every time the paper blade falls a camera will be triggered to capture the expression of the those who have put their neck on the line for an art experience like no other. Each fearful facial expression, forever immortalized on the PaperCuts-Exhibtion.com.

This piece is the first collaboration between artists Mandy Smith and Hal Kirkland. What began as a simple creative sit-down in an Amsterdam bar eventually manifested into the 3.8-meter behemoth it is today.

Mandy had always been disturbed by the idea of capital punishment since she was young and had begun to play with the idea of creating a series of deadly devices while juxtaposing them with the fragility and beauty of paper art. Hal suggested creating one at full-size, transforming the piece into a sculpture that allowed paper art – an art form usually too delicate to touch – to become inherently interactive. Both artists unified their craft, interactive skills sets and before long Paper Cuts was born.

Paper Cuts launched at one of Amsterdam’s most historic locations, De Waag on March 1st, following that it appear next at the Pick Me Up - Graphic Arts Festival Design at Somerset House - London, March 5th. Currently it resides at Stadtmuseum Aarau and is on loan from for the exhibition alongside the actual blade from the French Revolution.

Photography:

Stadtmuseum Aarau - Cedric Christopher Merkli
Somerset House - Aaron Tilley
Amsterdam’s Waag - Dario Fusnecher

Paper Cuts is an interactive paper sculpture that invites people to experience the world’s most recognizable instrument of death, head first. However, unlike it’s deadly ancestor, this blade offers nothing more final than a paper cut.

The guillotine became part of popular culture during France’s Reign of Terror (1793-94) and the subsequent French Revolution. While used well into modern times throughout other European countries the last time it was used for official business was in France was 1977.

This experience brings a new twist to this infamous apparatus while arousing people’s natural fascination for the macabre. It will transform a powerful and oppressive symbol of death into a thing of beauty. Delicate, inviting and something people may even line up for. Voluntarily this time.

And every time the paper blade falls a camera will be triggered to capture the expression of the those who have put their neck on the line for an art experience like no other. Each fearful facial expression, forever immortalized on the PaperCuts-Exhibtion.com.

This piece is the first collaboration between artists Mandy Smith and Hal Kirkland. What began as a simple creative sit-down in an Amsterdam bar eventually manifested into the 3.8-meter behemoth it is today.

Mandy had always been disturbed by the idea of capital punishment since she was young and had begun to play with the idea of creating a series of deadly devices while juxtaposing them with the fragility and beauty of paper art. Hal suggested creating one at full-size, transforming the piece into a sculpture that allowed paper art – an art form usually too delicate to touch – to become inherently interactive. Both artists unified their craft, interactive skills sets and before long Paper Cuts was born.

Paper Cuts launched at one of Amsterdam’s most historic locations, De Waag on March 1st, following that it appear next at the Pick Me Up - Graphic Arts Festival Design at Somerset House - London, March 5th. Currently it resides at Stadtmuseum Aarau and is on loan from for the exhibition alongside the actual blade from the French Revolution.

Photography:

Stadtmuseum Aarau - Cedric Christopher Merkli
Somerset House - Aaron Tilley
Amsterdam’s Waag - Dario Fusnecher

Paper Cuts is an interactive paper sculpture that invites people to experience the world’s most recognizable instrument of death, head first. However, unlike it’s deadly ancestor, this blade offers nothing more final than a paper cut.

The guillotine became part of popular culture during France’s Reign of Terror (1793-94) and the subsequent French Revolution. While used well into modern times throughout other European countries the last time it was used for official business was in France was 1977.

This experience brings a new twist to this infamous apparatus while arousing people’s natural fascination for the macabre. It will transform a powerful and oppressive symbol of death into a thing of beauty. Delicate, inviting and something people may even line up for. Voluntarily this time.

And every time the paper blade falls a camera will be triggered to capture the expression of the those who have put their neck on the line for an art experience like no other. Each fearful facial expression, forever immortalized on the PaperCuts-Exhibtion.com.

This piece is the first collaboration between artists Mandy Smith and Hal Kirkland. What began as a simple creative sit-down in an Amsterdam bar eventually manifested into the 3.8-meter behemoth it is today.

Mandy had always been disturbed by the idea of capital punishment since she was young and had begun to play with the idea of creating a series of deadly devices while juxtaposing them with the fragility and beauty of paper art. Hal suggested creating one at full-size, transforming the piece into a sculpture that allowed paper art – an art form usually too delicate to touch – to become inherently interactive. Both artists unified their craft, interactive skills sets and before long Paper Cuts was born.

Paper Cuts launched at one of Amsterdam’s most historic locations, De Waag on March 1st, following that it appear next at the Pick Me Up - Graphic Arts Festival Design at Somerset House - London, March 5th. Currently it resides at Stadtmuseum Aarau and is on loan from for the exhibition alongside the actual blade from the French Revolution.

Photography:

Stadtmuseum Aarau - Cedric Christopher Merkli
Somerset House - Aaron Tilley
Amsterdam’s Waag - Dario Fusnecher

Paper Cuts is an interactive paper sculpture that invites people to experience the world’s most recognizable instrument of death, head first. However, unlike it’s deadly ancestor, this blade offers nothing more final than a paper cut.

The guillotine became part of popular culture during France’s Reign of Terror (1793-94) and the subsequent French Revolution. While used well into modern times throughout other European countries the last time it was used for official business was in France was 1977.

This experience brings a new twist to this infamous apparatus while arousing people’s natural fascination for the macabre. It will transform a powerful and oppressive symbol of death into a thing of beauty. Delicate, inviting and something people may even line up for. Voluntarily this time.

And every time the paper blade falls a camera will be triggered to capture the expression of the those who have put their neck on the line for an art experience like no other. Each fearful facial expression, forever immortalized on the PaperCuts-Exhibtion.com.

This piece is the first collaboration between artists Mandy Smith and Hal Kirkland. What began as a simple creative sit-down in an Amsterdam bar eventually manifested into the 3.8-meter behemoth it is today.

Mandy had always been disturbed by the idea of capital punishment since she was young and had begun to play with the idea of creating a series of deadly devices while juxtaposing them with the fragility and beauty of paper art. Hal suggested creating one at full-size, transforming the piece into a sculpture that allowed paper art – an art form usually too delicate to touch – to become inherently interactive. Both artists unified their craft, interactive skills sets and before long Paper Cuts was born.

Paper Cuts launched at one of Amsterdam’s most historic locations, De Waag on March 1st, following that it appear next at the Pick Me Up - Graphic Arts Festival Design at Somerset House - London, March 5th. Currently it resides at Stadtmuseum Aarau and is on loan from for the exhibition alongside the actual blade from the French Revolution.

Photography:

Stadtmuseum Aarau - Cedric Christopher Merkli
Somerset House - Aaron Tilley
Amsterdam’s Waag - Dario Fusnecher