Mixed media artist Joyce Kutty was over the moon when she was invited to Thailand to showcase her first vertical origami installation outside of the US.
Along with a team of experts, the 24-year-old created the 21m-high origami exhibit from 1,027 hand-folded origami flowers. Named Gaysorn's Flower: Meet Me In The Garden, it is currently on display at Gaysorn Atrium Gallery, in Gaysorn Shopping Centre until May 30.
"This was a crazy, fast and very new experience for me, and I want to just thank everyone who was a part of my first installation," said Kutty.
Despite her youth, the Asian-American has been displayed at the Society of North America Goldsmiths Convention 2013 and Metalsmithing Exhibition 2014. Kutty, who majored in metalsmithing and jewellery design, said her educational background with 3D aesthetics and life experiences are components she uses in her installations. She also believes she has a strong cultural background stemming from her Asian ancestry; her mother is originally from Singapore and her father from India.
Speaking about the mammoth-sized installation, she said the idea from the start was for it to be an interactive creation so there could be audience participation. The biggest cluster will be 7m tall, the largest piece she has ever worked on.
If one looks at it from the bottom they will experience it in a different way than someone who is looking at it from the third floor, she said, as it encourages the viewer to walk around the mall and appreciate it.
Kutty said bringing her work to Thailand has been memorable.
"It was a challenge, the way you work a problem, the way you work out an issue, is all part of the artistic progress. I enjoyed it even though it was a lot of work," she said. "The theme is centred around a place where people can meet. The title of this piece is Meet Me In The Garden, so people can literally meet someone in the garden. It is supposed to be a place where people can meet and be inspired."
Getting to this point in her career has certainly been eventful, with each experience playing a pivotal role in her work as an artist. Kutty, who is also a metal jewellery designer, was first exposed to origami through a Japanese family friend when she was just three-years-old.
It was only three years ago, however, that she decided to develop the skill to serve a noble cause.
It all began when a nurse friend of hers who works on the oncology floor in Rhode Island Hospital mentioned to her about how patients going through chemotherapy are not allowed to have real flowers in their living space because their immune system is compromised. When family visited them, they would give photos of the bouquet they purchased for the patient, and discard the actual flowers in the bin afterwards.
"I felt that was not right and wanted to help," recalled Kutty. "My origami skills back then were limited, the best I could do was make lilies and roses, so I decided to study floral art and started to observe florists closely as there is a significant amount of science behind it.
"I started to mess with making clusters of flowers and through that I began to donate bouquets to the patients once a week. This was really when I started to define my aesthetics. I love to meet new people, so it worked perfectly. I made a new friend while the origami bouquet helped to brighten the day of a cancer patient. I hope to inspire others to share their talent."
This motivated her to take her work to the next level, composing floral art in unique styles, using the eastern method of origami with a western twist. Social media played a pivotal role in getting her work recognised.
Her love for origami was never meant to be used as a means to make money, but rather to put smiles on people's faces.
"I find my work therapeutic," said Kutty. "Donating a bouquet to a different patient each time is one way to touch the lives of as many people as possible. When patients are unconscious due to chemotherapy, I leave their bouquet close to them, and make it a point to say 'Hi' to them the next time I am there.
"Their view of life has helped me look at my own in a positive way. They are fun to be around because they are so full of life. They never talk about their cancer, and opt to speak on other aspects of their lives that are close to their heart. Many love to talk about their children. Once I spoke with a patient for an hour about his son, who is a photographer."
As well as for everyone who visits the Gaysorn Shopping Centre, Kutty said her installation was for two very special people in particular.
"This installation is in loving memory of Jack Emerson and Henry Andrade, as they were two individuals close to my heart that passed away from cancer very recently," she said.
