Photo: Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Felix Semper views is works of art as a great conversation piece. While very true, that sentiment may be selling himself short.
Simply take a look at his ‘sculptures’ below that are blowing up on social media right now. They’re art. They’re a magic trick. And they’re not made of stone, plastic or wood.
#stretchable paper sculptures pic.twitter.com/Cc8Gl7eY0N
— felix semper (@fsemper) July 18, 2017
#BIGGIESTRETCHMIAMI Wynwood Miami!! pic.twitter.com/RVziSNsIDS
— felix semper (@fsemper) May 7, 2017
Bling Bling Toosa!!! Stretchable paper sculpture!!!#stretchablepapersculpture #blingbling pic.twitter.com/WxvwgWSUtO
— felix semper (@fsemper) July 21, 2017
That’s right. These bad boys are made out of paper. Just regular ol’ recycled, thinly cut trees.
Semper even did a paper sculpture of a box of Frosted Flakes.
“CEREAL STRETCHABLE PAPER SCULPTURE “!! Hand painted on paper #frosedflakes #kelloggs kellogsceriallbox pic.twitter.com/ofy2FrOkbs
— felix semper (@fsemper) February 7, 2016
But why stop there? He also did a Sponge Bob.
Spongebob stretchable paper sculpture #SpongeBobSquarepants #spongebob pic.twitter.com/wRjAd8MYOX
— felix semper (@fsemper) January 3, 2018
And the 1984 Air Jordan’s you wouldn’t want to wear.
1984 Air Jordans…yes you can fly, #AirJordan #Nike pic.twitter.com/1adJSe9JAU
— felix semper (@fsemper) January 5, 2018
And possibly the greatest food prank I’ve seen in a decade.
A real burger?… % Organic and very high in fiber!!
Made from paper. #paper #NationalWalkoutDay #worldsgreatestshave #MSDStrong pic.twitter.com/dMVfEXJeMH— felix semper (@fsemper) March 15, 2018
Semper says everything is done by hand so it takes anywhere from a week to two weeks to finish one small ‘sculpture.’ It can take two to three months to complete a larger piece.
#2017IGNIION pic.twitter.com/fxe4mTfT13
— felix semper (@fsemper) November 28, 2017
So what’s the secret?
Semper says it’s an internal mechanism that makes it open.
“The paper sculptures that are created are unique because they’re not glued on the outside. They’re glued on the inside,” he said.
The sculpture he made of Biggie Smalls last year took about 7000 sheets of paper.
You can check out more of Felix’s work here. Until then, Semper Fi!
Josh Helmuth is a sports reporter in St. Louis and a contributor for Mandatory.
