pictured above: The Legend of Zelda – Phantom Hourglass

We’re stoked to present a long-awaited interview (we unfortunately failed to post this back in November of last year!) with a creative individual, Christina Casey, the heart and soul of Aphlogist. Brooklyn-based artist Christina has a brilliant shop chock-full of some of the most playful paper-cut creations that we’re betting a few video game enthusiasts might enjoy!

Without further adieu, read on to find out more about the lovely gal and her shop.

pictured above: Original papercuts of Super Mario’s enemies

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I grew up in a very multicultural family in the Bronx . I’d be eating Puerto Rican arroz con pollo one night and southern style fried chicken and greens the next. It nurtured a great love of food and family, but lent no real connection to art. I wasn’t very creative as a child, it’s not something that was actively encouraged, but something I’d find much later down the road. I studied international studies and Japanese in college, where I met the love of my life.

Koh and I traveled to Japan, where I also taught English for a year at Lily Vale Elementary School. My love of paper began when I was put in charge of the window display for the English Department. I had to create a different display every month for the children that was inspirational and would make them want to learn English. All I had to work with was paper. A lot of paper.

pictured above: papercut prints

On my free time I started to teach myself papercraft. I picked up books on kirigami, origami, card making, and paper quilling. I learned to cut really well with a pair scissors and an x-acto knife. I continued doing papercraft when I came back to NYC, teaching myself new techniques and becoming more sculptural. Soon after Koh and I moved in together we started our Etsy shop.

Tell us a little bit about your shop.
The name Aphlogist was drawn from the notion of an aphlogistic lamp, which offers light without flame, not unlike the screen you might be reading this on. I loved the oldness and oddness of the word. It’s a play on modernity, our cult of the screen. It also speaks to the inspiration found amongst all that shared light.

We opened the shop as a means to encourage ourselves to do what we love doing. It’s easy to get away from that. When someone comes along and wants to put something you made on their wall, it makes you wonder why you’ve been doing anything else.

Of the paper creations you’ve made, which is your favorite and why?
I think my favorite is always my newest creation. Currently, that’s my Baby Mario piece. I used a mix of card stock and Japanese washi paper to make him. I can get a little obsessed with the precision of my cuts so I’m really happy with how they turned out on him.

What do you love about working with paper?When I start a new project I love picking out what colors I’m going to use first. There are endless choices of colors and textures, it can be overwhelming, but something always pops out and I know that’s what I’m going to use. Paper has a wonderful flexibility and versatility, I can create a anything, a 2d or a 3d image. I can change the shape and texture with just a pair of scissors.

Tell us one fun factoid about yourself.
I love video games, and supporting people who make them via Humble Bundle and Kickstarter. I hope to make a papercraft video game one day.

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A huge thank you goes out to the wonderfully talented Christina. Be sure to pop over to her shop on Etsy and check out her fabulous portfolio.

all photos via Aphlogist