Ream - paper art by Oona Patterson

Ream

Little Ream is where it all began. With one girl trying to escape her story.

Ream is the story of a little girl made out of paper who lives inside a book. It is told via a 3D model where each page of the story has its own area. To read online click the i above each picture to reveal the corresponding text.

An example of scale

On display at Brighton University's Degree Show 2008

1. Ream was a little girl who lived on a boat. Far out to sea, she watched the Sun and Moon shine day and night. One night Ream decided that she would do whatever it took to shine as brightly as they did, so she sailed off in search of some advice…

2. The Rock Ladies were very wise, “If you want to shine, you must collect some sparkles from the Land beyond the Waves. Take our sharpest tooth for protection and follow the path behind you.” Ream had never heard of this place before, but determined to be as bright as the Sun she did as they suggested.

3. The road was long and steep, and only after walking for a long time did Ream come to its end. A large Palace made of silver stood waiting for her.

4. Inside the Palace leapt and twirled a magnificent Dancer. “Excuse me,” asked Ream, “do you know the way to the Land beyond the Waves?” The Dancer hardly noticed Ream but eventually replied “If you can dance in my place and let me rest for one whole night, I will show you the rest of the way.”

5. So Ream took the Dancer’s place and leapt and twirled while the woman slept beside her.

6. When she awoke the Dancer took Ream to the sea. She parted the waves and revealed a path along the sea bed. Ream followed it to a Palace made of jade, guarded by a large sea Monster. “Excuse me,” Ream asked once more, “do you know the rest of the way to the Land beyond the Waves?”

7. In reply, the Monster snatched Ream up and swallowed her whole. Inside its belly she calmly reached in her pocket for the old Rock Ladies’ tooth and cut her way out of its stomach

8. Behind the Monster was a stairwell into the ground. It was the only path left for Ream to follow. Down, down, down, she walked until the whole world flipped over and she found herself walking up, and up, and up.

...At the top there was only white, but she carried on walking…

11. … Returning to where she belonged was far easier than leaving. Down, down, down she went and then up, and up, and up once more. Past the Monster, motionless on the sea bed, and up through the waves that had flowed back into place.

12. Ream emerged from the waves and swum back to her boat. She climbed onto the deck and pulled the sparkles from her pocket. They flew everywhere, dazzling everyone. Her boat was transformed into a Palace of diamonds and she stood tall on deck, shining as brightly as a new star