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Carl von Linné, an illustrious 18th century Swedish botanist and zoologist, was the architect behind the famous classification of the three kingdoms of nature (animal, plant and mineral) which we still use today. Over several summers, he undertook long journeys through different regions of Sweden to explore, collect plants, and record his findings about animals.
His legacy is still palpable in the country today, as evidenced by the decoration of a pedestrian tunnel spanning more than 30 metres, opened in 2015 in the city of Uppsala, featuring artworks inspired by his figure. Its creator, Fideli Sundqvist, built 25 three-dimensional scenes with animals and plants from different parts of the world, which were later photographed and mounted on glass illuminated from behind, creating a unique lighting experience.
This was one of Fideli Sundqvist’s first commissions as a paper artist. Since then, she has not stopped creating paper scenery, silhouettes and animations, making masterful use of this material.
A dream come true
The daughter of a potter and a scientist, as a child she always dreamed of becoming an artist. She enjoyed creating crafts using different materials, from wood to paint, and she also liked to sew. She first became interested in graphic design when she was introduced to the world of music while playing in a band, and admired the album cover designs and illustrations.
At the age of 18 she moved from Uppsala to Stockholm to study for two years at Nyckelvikssskolan, a school specialising in art, crafts, and design. She worked chiefly with the linocut technique – cutting images with a linoleum scalpel – until her brother returned from an exchange trip to China with some traditional paper cutouts, which she was completely fascinated by. But it wasn’t until her third year at Konstfack art school, where she earned a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration in 2011, that she began to explore three-dimensional scenes in paper. She then photographed this scenes to use as illustrations in a pictorial story.
The agency that hired her after her studies began to fill her portfolio with projects for large Swedish companies, such as food retailer ICA, bed manufacturer Hästens, paperback publisher Älska Pocket and the economists’ union Akavia.
The Swedish artist has also designed paper objects for major international luxury brands, such as a tiger for Louis Vuitton, makeup compacts for Yves Saint Laurent, a watch for Omega or shoes for Marc Jacobs.
She has also taken part in charity campaigns, such as with Bris, a Swedish organisation campaigning for the rights of children and adolescents in society.
Small tools, big stories
One of the reasons Fideli Sundqvist likes to work with paper is because there are not a lot of tools required to construct her objects. What’s more, other materials can be imitated through the use of different paper qualities. The challenge, for the artist, is creating the content – the story that these objects tell.
The process begins with a digital sketch, which she later recreates in a model with basic paper; finally, she adds textures and colours to build scenes full of realism. So much so that many of her creations seem like real objects, unlike the flowers and plants that usually star in her compositions.
Another recurring theme is food: she creates wonderful delicacies you’d love to sink your teeth into, if they weren’t made of paper.
Another of Fideli Sundqvist’s lines of work are incredible silhouettes brimming with details, with scenes of daily life such as gardening, a day at the beach, or her own experience of motherhood.
In recent years, she has also made the leap into animation, which she often creates in collaboration with her husband, the photographer Hannes Anderzén.
Books to learn the art of paper
The Swedish artist has shared her knowledge through two successful books, which have been translated into several languages. ‘Paper Garden’ and ‘I Love Paper’ are for all those who want an introduction into paper techniques and to make their own designs at home.
She is also the author of the illustrated children’s book ‘Hopptornet’ and, more recently, she illustrated ‘Can it happen again?’, a book by the Swedish writer Jesper Lunqvist which tells the story of the Second World War and the Holocaust, to help young people reflect on the events of the past for a fairer and more inclusive world.
Whether its projects for publishers, major brands or her own projects, Fideli Sundqvist creates unique and colourful paper objects that make up stories to transport us to other worlds.
Artist website: https://fidelisundqvist.com
Artist Instagram Profile: https://www.instagram.com/fidelisundqvist/