Engineering paper flowers
Installations transform city centre
PAPER engineer Benja Harney has created work for the likes of Google and Nike, Westfield and Hermes and has just brought his creative talent to Grand Central.
Mr Harney and his team from Sydney-based studio Paperform created three large floral installations, predominantly made of paper.
The sculptures, featuring anemones, alliums and orchids, are hanging from the roof of the centre just in time for Carnival of Flowers.
“About three months we have been in talks. In terms of fabrication we have been on it for the last five or six weeks,” Mr Harney said.
He is a self-taught paper engineer who is regarded as a pioneer in his field.
“This is probably one of the biggest projects we have done in the 12 years I have been doing this,” he said.
“Normally we work at a smaller scale, so the logistics of doing something this large are more challenging. So you have to have things underneath like
wood and we have used foam core and cardboard to support the paper.”
Mr Harney said his job was an interesting one and focussed on a technical and precise approach to paper rather than a crafty one.
“I specialise in pop-up books, that is where I started, at least,” he said.
“It is very specialised being a paper engineer.
When I started there weren’t really many people at all. Well, you could count them on your hand.”
This was Mr Harney’s first visit to Toowoomba and he was happy to be involved in the region’s signature event.
Grand Central centre manager Shaine Beveridge said it had been a privilege to work with Mr Harney and the team at Paperform to
bring the incredible displays to Toowoomba.
“To think that they are made of paper, it’s really visually stunning,” he said.
“We needed someone to create something truly unique for us so when it came to that, there are not many people who can do what Benja does and his team.”
Mr Beveridge said Grand
Central was hosting its own spring festival in the lead-up to carnival which included an outdoor cinema, a new digital runway, sanctuary garden workshops and live music.
For more about the Grand Central’s spring festival go to grandcentral shopping .com.au or find out more about Paperform at paperform.com.au.