Kip Perdue's Papercuts Of London

Will Noble
By Will Noble Last edited 116 months ago
Kip Perdue's Papercuts Of London
Brixton up close.
Brixton up close.
East Dulwich gets the lilac treatment.
East Dulwich gets the lilac treatment.
Aldwych mimics the curve of the Thames.
Aldwych mimics the curve of the Thames.
The familiar shape of the Thames.
The familiar shape of the Thames.

Artist and cartographer Kip Perdue — also known as Kartegraphik — is mapping the world in paper. As well as crafting intricate cut-outs of areas including Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris and Harlem in New York City, Kip's been busy slicing out the streets and rivers of London. So far, he's created delicate depictions of the serpentine undulations of the Thames, Aldwych facing the South Bank, Brixton centre, and East Dulwich.

Says Kip on his website:

"When I created my first map cut I was ridiculously proud of myself. It took a long time and a whole packet of no 11 blades but it came out beautifully.

"I've slowly experimented with different styles and shapes to convey different aspects of the geographical landscape."

Each map is designed by hand. The original cut-out creates a type of flexible template allowing Kip to recreate much of the same map again. In order to avoid the 'Hermann Grid Illusion' — an illusion whereby you see little black circles at all the intersections of white lines — Kip often uses a very, very, very dark blue backing card. Presumably the same tone they use for priests' socks.

Kip's papercuts of London are available to buy from his online shop.

Last Updated 25 July 2014