Disconnecting through paper
- Marta is self-taught
- She is inspired by the shapes of nature
- She considers paper a versatile material
When asked why she decided to embrace creating with paper, Marta Herrero Arias’s response is more of a statement: “It was the need to find an alternative to technology and our being connected 24/7.” Self-taught, she has always been fascinated by the magic of touching and feeling materials. She feels an inner connection with the feel of the creative process, for which paper is a perfect material due to its versatility, and which she expresses through her painting and making. Marta works on both small and large scale projects, collaborating with brands and artists, using her hands, scissors and markers to craft her dreamy world. Each piece is unique, she personally chooses the paper according to its weight, texture, pattern and colour and occasionally incorporating wasabi or paper recycled from textiles or organic waste.
INTERVIEW
I created Marta Smith as an alter ego, morphing into a sort of pun: M is the initial of my name, adding Miss and Smith as a surname (common like Herrero in Spain) it became Missmsmith. Later on I added “Arte en papel” (Paper art) to better identify the projects and the material they were made of.
”Arte en Papel” is an artistic venture, using the origami technique as well as folded or cut paper – by hand or occasionally laser-cut – together with mural illustrations. Each creation can be customised by using paper of different colours and textures, prints and weight.
I never quite know! It might be the people surrounding me, music, cinema or nature. I also delve into diverse artistic references from Gaugin to Schiele and the geometry works of Matthew Shlian, as well as nature inspired ones by Diana Beltrán Herrera and Tania Lissova.
It is one of the aspects of my work I enjoy most. Together with my team, we once did a mural in the heart of Madrid (3 by 5 metres) – so many people stopped to take pictures next to it. This has been one of the highlights of my career as I am determined to spread art in every corner of the city.
3 EXPERIENCES
