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InspirationArt & Culture

Wooden sculptures of twisted human forms by artist Paul Kaptein

Working with large blocks of laminated wood, Perth-based artist Paul Kaptein – featured previously – painstakingly carves the most beautifully twisted and distorted human figures, some pocketed with holes to mimic star constellations.

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White wooden carved sculpture of a man with slicked-back hair, goatee and wearing a jacket with perforated details, shown in profile against a neutral background

With a certain dark humour to his work, it's as though Paul's sculptures are bent through time and space – like they are moving, but in the same instance, standing completely still. Inspired by popular culture, everyday observations and philosophical readings, many of his sculptures have deliberate gaps – leaving us to ponder what lies beyond.

He explains: "My work is broadly concerned with the agency of the present moment. By sampling various cultural and temporal trajectories, I’m exploring the notion of the now as a remix of past and future potentialities. This facilitates a renegotiation of perceptual truths resulting in an expression of things not quite truth, yet not quite fiction."

Via Behance | All images courtesy of Paul Kaptein

White wooden carved bust of a man wearing a cream blazer with black dotted constellation-like holes across the chest
Wooden carved sculpture by Paul Kaptein showing a man's head and shoulders in profile against a neutral background, with subtle holes and distortions throughout the figure
Rear view of a wooden carved figure with blonde hair in a bun, wearing a cream garment with constellation-like dots and lines marked on the back
Cream-coloured wooden sculpture by Paul Kaptein of a headless figure in a helmet holding a scroll, with scaled leg armour and bird-like feet
Wooden figure carved from light-coloured laminated wood, viewed from behind, wearing a t-shirt and cropped trousers with straps around the lower legs, holding a scroll
Carved wooden figure of a man in casual clothing with an exaggerated twisted posture, standing on a circular base with one arm raised expressively
Cream-coloured wooden sculpture of a figure in casual clothing with one arm raised, viewed from behind, standing on a circular base
Pale wooden sculpture of a contorted figure in a suit leaning backwards with one leg extended and arms positioned expressively
Cream-coloured wooden sculpture by Paul Kaptein depicting a stylised human figure with an elongated neck and outstretched arms in a twisted pose
Wooden sculpture by Paul Kaptein depicting a contorted human figure in a dynamic twisted pose, carved from laminated wood and displayed on a circular base
Wooden sculpture by Paul Kaptein of a twisted human figure in a dynamic pose with outstretched arms and legs, carved from laminated wood and mounted on a circular base
Wooden sculpture by Paul Kaptein of a contorted figure with an elongated face and twisted torso, carved from laminated wood against a grey background
Wooden sculpture by Paul Kaptein showing the back view of a figure with an elongated twisted neck and head, carved from pale laminated wood with small holes dotted across the shoulders
Pale wooden carved head sculpture shown in profile against a neutral grey background, displaying smooth facial features and textured hair detail
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