‘This Papercut Life’ is the design studio of artist Sue Codee specialising in creating contemporary papercut design and installation, plus a range of individually designed art objects, designs for public spaces, and distinctive logos.

Sue’s delicate paper cuts explore narrative themes of human fragility, stories of place, environment, people and community, while touching on personal and more universal themes.

As a practising artist for more than 20 years, Sue's interest in the art of papercut emerged several years ago while in treatment for cancer and in a response to a need to create “slow art” in order to “slow life”. The handmade paper cuts require attention to detail and a steady hand that creates a meditative and focused state resulting in a strong personal connection to the work.

Papercut is an ancient craft that is experiencing a contemporary resurgence. It has been and still is practiced in diverse forms in China (as jian zhi), Japan (as kirigami), and throughout Asia as shadow puppetry. Paper cutting was also practiced in the US, Mexico (as paper picado), and throughout Europe.

Sue Codee is an artist and designer based in the historic city of Albany on the south coast of Western Australia and has undertaken many artistic roles including curator, arts consultant, designer and project coordinator since completing a Fine Arts degree from Curtin University in Perth, Western Australia in 1988.

She has received numerous awards including the “Celebrating Albany” and “Most Popular Artist” Awards, Centennial Art Prize, Albany in 2011; The Grove Securities Acquisition Award and Grove Securities Community Award at “Illuminate”, Residency Museum, Albany in 2010; an Australia Council for the Arts Residency Award in 2003; and the Albany Art Prize in 1993.

She has exhibited widely in both solo and group exhibitions including: Brunswick St Galleries, Melbourne, 2011; “Paperartzi” as part of the Perth International Arts Festival, 2011; Cheongju International Craft Competition, Cheongju International Craft Biennale, Korea, 2011; “Paper Trails”, Art Piece Gallery, Mullumbimby, 2011; a review of her work at Gorepani Gallery in Albany, 2009; “Conjunction” at Elements Art Gallery, Perth, 2008, and “Ten Western Australian Artists” at Abney Gallery, New York in 1996.

Her work is represented in many public and private collections. She has also worked nationally and internationally as a community arts worker and artist-in-residence. (see Sue”s CV Sue Codee CV (144 KB) for more information)