On the occasion of the 27th Congress of the International Association of Hand Papermakers and Paper Artists (IAPMA e.V.), which is being organised this year by Fides Linien, President of the Association, and is taking place on the premises of the Dresden University of Fine Arts, the Museum of Decorative Arts / Design Campus, in cooperation with the IAPMA, is showing the special exhibition "PAPER ALIVE! - Paper Art International" in the Water Palace of Pillnitz Palace.

In the process, the material paper is brought to new life by 80 artists from all over the world. Paper fulfils a multitude of functions in our world: To the casual observer, paper can be a passive, disposable material – something that can be easily discarded after it has fulfilled its limited or temporary function. For the artist, the longevity of paper is crucial, as it determines the lifespan of an artwork. That is why this year at the IAPMA Congress and at Pillnitz Palace the motto is: PAPER ALIVE!

In this exhibition, artworks by 85 contemporary artists from 30 countries around the world show that paper is a living, responsive artistic medium. Thus, it defies expectations and transforms into complex two- or three-dimensional entities, artists' books, jewellery, textiles and fashion or installations, environment and performance – an experience for all the senses.

The contemporary artworks exhibited here are in dialogue with works from the collection of the Museum of Decorative Arts, thus revealing timeless connections and inspirations in relation to the medium of paper.