Based in the Netherlands but originally from Israel, Aliza Thomas is an artist whose work intertwines traditional papermaking techniques with deep spiritual exploration. A practitioner and teacher of Qigong and Taiji Quan, she integrates the principles of harmony and flow from these disciplines into her art. Her creative process is a meditative journey, blending physical craft with introspection to create pieces that resonate with themes of balance, duality, and the interconnectedness of life.
Aliza’s passion for papermaking draws heavily from Asian traditions, particularly the use of Kozo paper. This handmade medium, with its strength and organic qualities, provides a perfect canvas for her explorations of texture and form. Her studio is a lively space where art, philosophy, and everyday life collide.
Completed in 2024, “Combining Left and Right” is a free-formed Kozo paper piece measuring 122 cm by 110 cm. The work is both tactile and thought-provoking, inviting viewers to question their perceptions of opposites. Using dyed pulp shaped on a screen, Aliza crafts a narrative that reflects her fascination with the interplay between left and right—not just as physical sides, but as metaphors for relationships, decisions, and identity.
The accompanying verse offers an intimate glimpse into Aliza’s thought process: “Is it left or right? Who’s first? Your left or my right…” These words highlight the fluid nature of perspective, suggesting that what we perceive as opposites are often part of a larger whole.
Drawing from her background in martial arts, Aliza describes the study of left and right as both therapeutic and endlessly inspiring. The twisting, snake-like shapes in the piece symbolize movement, tension, and transformation. Light slicing through the composition hints at moments of clarity, while the knotted textures speak to the challenges of achieving balance.
For Aliza, this exploration is more than abstract theory—it’s a lived experience. “You borrow my left side. Then I will be right,” she says, capturing the reciprocity inherent in human connection. The organic imperfections of the handmade Kozo paper enhance the piece’s themes, embodying the beauty of harmonious imbalance.
In 2020, Aliza created “Carrying a Heavy Load,” a 133 cm by 68 cm artwork that delves into the universal experience of bearing burdens. Using dyed Kozo pulp on a giant screen, she captures the tension between effort and ease, strength and fragility.
Inspired by her observations of people, animals, and even objects carrying heavy loads, Aliza reflects on the unique grace in such moments. She recalls the sensation of horseback riding as a metaphor for this interplay—how the act of being carried evokes both pride and dependence. These feelings are central to the piece, which uses layered textures and forms to suggest weight, motion, and the invisible bonds between the carrier and the carried.
The artwork resonates because it taps into shared human experiences. It portrays not just the physical act of carrying but the emotional dynamics involved—pride, resilience, and connection. Through her intricate use of Kozo paper, Aliza creates a visual narrative that feels both intimate and universal.
The Kozo paper she uses is central to this philosophy. Derived from the bark of mulberry trees, the paper’s production is itself an act of transformation. Stripping, boiling, and shaping the fibers into sheets becomes a meditative ritual that mirrors the themes of her art. The resulting material is both fragile and strong, embodying the dualities Aliza seeks to explore.
Aliza’s work is not just about the pieces she creates—it’s about the ideas they provoke. Whether it’s the philosophical questions raised by “Combining Left and Right” or the emotional depth of “Carrying a Heavy Load,” her art invites reflection on the connections between physical and spiritual, individual and collective.
Rooted in tradition but profoundly personal, Aliza’s practice reminds us that art is as much about the journey as the destination. It’s a process of discovery, shaped by the materials at hand and the moments of insight. Through her work, she offers a lens for examining the complexities of life, encouraging viewers to find balance in their own stories.
