From paper work to paper play

Paper Labour by Household, Spacex installation

In my previous life as a London office worker, I had my own form of lunchtime stress relief:  I used to go and have a good feel of the handmade and specialist papers in the Paperchase store in Tottenham Court Road. My quick outing to The Paper Co-operative at Spacex last Saturday had a similar effect.

For a month the gallery has become a tactile treat - a kid-friendly space with robust, giant-sized paper sculptures for crawling and lying in (commissioned from design collective Household) and a number of book and paper works - most available for browsing - from artists including Tom Sowden, Emily Speed and Georgia Russell.  The exhibition has continued to expand as the output of numerous gallery workshops joins the collection.

The best thing about The Paper Co-operative, however, is the combination of inspiration and instant gratification. The gallery is equipped with scissors, rubber stamps, staplers and a range of exciting papers. You don't have to wait to get home to try out what you've just seen.

The Paper Co-operative, 6th August - 3rd September, Spacex, 45 Preston Street, Exeter EX1 1DF