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.
Azure Window, Malta
Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa
Toulon, France
Coit Tower, San Francisco
Michelangelo’s David, Florence
Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro
Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai
SeaWalk, Royal Princess Cruise Ship
The Broad, Los Angeles
Torre Agbar, Barcelona
Tower Bridge, London
Santa Monica Ferris Wheel, Santa Monica Pier
Les Arcs, Savoie
Club Med, Rio Das Pedras
Paperboyo: Instagram | Facebook
h/t: [Colossal, Vice]