Norie Hatakeyama (Japanese, b.1954)
Untitled

paper fiber strips, plaited

Dimensions: 58 cm. (28 4/5 in.) Long

Painings in Hospitals, London

Norie Hatakeyama is a Japanese artist celebrated for her intricate sculptural works created by plaiting or weaving paper fiber strips, particularly industrial paper-packing tape, into three-dimensional geometric forms. Her Complex Plaiting Series, such as this piece, showcases how repetition and precise interlacing give rise to structures that appear almost organic, as if growing or pulsing with life. By using factory-made packing tape, Hatakeyama creates a compelling contrast between the industrial and the handmade, transforming a utilitarian material into delicate, flowing forms. Her sculptures often lack a clear orientation or endpoint, inviting viewers to consider the underlying geometry and labor while evoking a sense of cyclical movement and continuous renewal.