Anja Shahinniya
Paper artist
München, Germany
Beyond the blank page
- Anja's journey with paper began alongside her work in fashion
- She collaborates with luxury brands and magazines
- She describes her practice as building worlds from paper
Anja Shahinniya’s process begins with a simple, ordinary starting point: a blank white sheet. From this base, she creates elaborate scenes for exhibitions, set design, shop windows and private commissions. Anja's ideas unfold with meticulous attention to detail and layering that inspires a sense of wonder. "With scissors, glue and patience, flat paper becomes space," she explains. After studying fashion design, Anja spent over a decade as a fashion editor, directing shoots for publications such as Cosmopolitan. While styling jewellery and watch productions, she began constructing small paper stages herself, until one improvised set led to a creative discovery. Since 2014, she has been working full-time as a paper artist. “Most of my skills are self-taught, built over years of practical experimentation and learning from books ranging from botanical crafts to architecture,” Anja says.
INTERVIEW
The most important lesson I learned is to trust the process. The idea for a project often comes quickly, but bringing it to life takes time and effort. Patience is essential: I have burned my fingers with the glue gun and cut myself more than once. I approach the process almost like meditation, and that is part of the magic.
Paper is highly versatile, available in different weights and textures. It can be glossy, embossed, cut or feature a specific finish. The same concept can take on a completely different character on the paper selected. I have favourites, such as Gmund papers from Lake Tegernsee, but the final decision often comes down to budget and client preference.
My work involves paper, hand tools, adhesives and often medical instruments for their accuracy. The only technology I sometimes use is a Mergenthaler laser, which I use to cut or emboss very fine, repetitive details in my drawings.
One of my most memorable projects so far was a Bulgari gala dinner at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. I created over 500 colourful paper flowers and objects for a long table, referencing the old masters of the house. Guests were invited to take a piece home, and by the end of the evening, not a single item remained, which made me feel incredibly proud.
