Ana Hagopián

Paper artist

©Fabian Vazquez Savareikas

Intuitive beauty in every fold

Ana creates sculptural and textually rich jewellery from hand-folded paper
She cites nature, design and fine art as her sources of inspiration
Her pieces convey subtlety, airiness and romance

Ana Hagopián trained in fine arts in Argentina in the early 1980s and gradually turned towards paper sculpting alongside her academic background. She honed her manual skills on her travels in Asia and South America, focusing on paper as the material that would offer her endless possibilities of experimentation. Her journey as a maker began in 1994, before she knew where it would lead. Since Ana's first creation – a round paper box – she has specialised in making jewellery that is light and ephemeral, sparked by childhood memories and all things natural. Self-trained and curious by nature, Ana is guided by her instincts and the process of trial and error. She folds, creases, and manipulates paper, without sketching beforehand, choosing instead to play with the material and devise what the piece will look like in her mind as she goes.

Interview

©Fabian Vazquez Savareikas

©Fabian Vazquez Savareikas

Would you define your work as traditional or innovative?: I feel it is a combination of both. In my opinion there is no innovation if you do not pay due respect to tradition. Paper is such a versatile material, you can make anything you want out of it, achieving different textures, playing with colour and weight.
Do you have a primary source of inspiration?: My academic background gave me the opportunity to study art, architecture and design, which remain a source of inspiration for me. Then, there is nature. Through its observation, I learned about how shapes can be unpredictable and unique, as well as how colours can transform thanks to light and shadow.
Why did you choose paper as your primary material?: Paper's versatility allows me to play with colour and give shape to any idea that crosses my mind. I do not sketch before I approach the material; I prefer the freedom of improvisation. When I execute an idea, thanks to paper, I do not have a strict path to follow, I can manipulate, fold and crease.
Do you have a special memory related to your craft?: I was in New York, visiting the Guggenheim Museum, when I saw the shop window filled with papers bags. At the time, I had just started working with paper. I remember it as an epiphany, a moment where I realised that, thanks to paper, I could create something truly meaningful.

Ana Hagopián is an expert artisan: she began her career in 1996