Giuliana Cobalchini is an Italian artist who has dedicated herself to art in various forms since the early years of her education.

The Colonna Fluttuante (Floating Column) comprises 700 butterflies made of Tokyo paper is the result of a journey that led her from painting to creating this assemblage in space through the technique of origami.

“Tokyo embossed paper embodies elegance and softness of touch, offering a special feeling when worked in origami and transforming the paper into elegant, winged creatures that capture the eye and imagination”. – Giuliana Cobalchini

The Column consists of a thin plastic disc at the top, from which vertical lines of butterflies descend. At the same time, from bottom to top, the different gradations of Tokyo change from dark to light tones, as if to signify the attainment of light as one ascends.

Giuliana said that ”each butterfly that is folded is a unique object, never the same because the act of creating is a unique moment, it is a thought, it is a reflection, it is the paper that is transformed through the will and energy of the folding hands”.

The challenge the artist faced with Tokyo was to express lightness and delicacy despite the paper’s robust characteristics. Tokyo itself was created from a challenging project, which was completed thanks to a close collaboration between Favini and Tokushu Tokai, a major Japanese paper mill.

Favini’s contribution was expressed in the design and development of the paper, while Tokushu Tokai was a key partner in the production of this very special embossed paper.

Exhibition of Giuliana Cobalchini‘s works at Forte Marghera, photos by Marco Toffanello.