Traveling Artist Uses Paper Cut-Outs to Transform Landmarks into Playful Scenes

paper cut-out photography paperboyo Rich McCor paper cut-outs travel art landmarks

The Colosseum, Rome

Playfully known as Paperboyo, English artist and photographer Rich McCor continues to cleverly transform tourist destinations around the world with his paper cut-outs. Constructed from black card-stock, his silhouettes turn well-known sites into whimsical scenes.

Like his older work, McCor's more recent photographs present landmarks and monuments from an entirely new perspective. By holding his cut-outs and camera at the perfect angle, McCor is able to make it appear as if each of his tiny creations is part of the much larger background. As a result of his creative eye and steady hand, McCor has put an octopus in the Colosseum, clothed Michelangelo's seemingly shameless statue of David, turned Christ the Redeemer into a Titanic love interest, and used the Santa Monica Pier ferris wheel as a yo-yo.

His arrangements may look effortless, but each one requires ample preparation. “Let's say I'm traveling to New York,” McCor tells Vice. “Before I go I'll print out as many photos of the city as I can. Then I'll get a pencil and I'll doodle ideas on top of the prints. And when I get one that I think works, I'll make the cutout for it. But I still take my scalpel knife, cutting board and bits of black card in case I get an idea once I'm there.” Lucky for McCor, his patience and persistence have paid off. He now has over 250k followers on Instagram, where he posts each quirky photo.

See some of the impressive and inventive paper cut-outs by Rich McCor, or Paperboyo, below.

paper cut-out photography paperboyo Rich McCor paper cut-outs travel art landmarks

Azure Window, Malta

paper cut-out photography paperboyo Rich McCor paper cut-outs travel art landmarks

Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa

paper cut-out photography paperboyo Rich McCor paper cut-outs travel art landmarks

Toulon, France

paper cut-out photography paperboyo Rich McCor paper cut-outs travel art landmarks

Coit Tower, San Francisco

paper cut-out photography paperboyo Rich McCor paper cut-outs travel art landmarks

Michelangelo's David, Florence

paper cut-out photography paperboyo Rich McCor paper cut-outs travel art landmarks

Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro

paper cut-out photography paperboyo Rich McCor paper cut-outs travel art landmarks

Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai

paper cut-out photography paperboyo Rich McCor paper cut-outs travel art landmarks

SeaWalk, Royal Princess Cruise Ship

paper cut-out photography paperboyo Rich McCor paper cut-outs travel art landmarks

The Broad, Los Angeles

paper cut-out photography paperboyo Rich McCor paper cut-outs travel art landmarks

Torre Agbar, Barcelona

paper cut-out photography paperboyo Rich McCor paper cut-outs travel art landmarks

Tower Bridge, London

paper cut-out photography paperboyo Rich McCor paper cut-outs travel art landmarks

Santa Monica Ferris Wheel, Santa Monica Pier

paper cut-out photography paperboyo Rich McCor paper cut-outs travel art landmarks

Les Arcs, Savoie

paper cut-out photography paperboyo Rich McCor paper cut-outs travel art landmarks

Club Med, Rio Das Pedras

Paperboyo: Instagram | Facebook 
h/t: [Colossal, Vice]

All images via Paperboyo.

Kelly Richman-Abdou

Kelly Richman-Abdou is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. An art historian living in Paris, Kelly was born and raised in San Francisco and holds a BA in Art History from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University. When she’s not writing, you can find Kelly wandering around Paris, whether she’s leading a tour (as a guide, she has been interviewed by BBC World News America and France 24) or simply taking a stroll with her husband and two tiny daughters.
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