Karlien van Jaarsveld for SARIE Magazine — Editorial Set Design & Paper Illustration

Commissioned for a feature and interview with Karlien van Jaarsveld for SARIE magazine, this project involved the creation of a whimsical paper environment inspired by childhood imagination and illustrated storytelling.

Paper became both the medium and the narrative device, allowing two-dimensional drawings and cut-out forms to occupy physical space around the subject.

Clouds, stars, oversized objects, and illustrated architectural elements were translated from drawing into physical form, creating a deliberately naïve visual world that celebrated imagination and storytelling. The contrast between the flat illustrated forms and the three-dimensional presence of the subject created a compelling tension throughout the imagery, making the photographs feel both theatrical and intimate.

The result was a photographic world that celebrated imagination, inviting viewers into a space where sketches became architecture, clouds floated indoors, and everyday objects assumed unexpected scale and significance.