David Shrigley, The Paper Weighs Nothing, 2014

The Paper Weighs Nothing (2014) – David Shrigley Screenprint

About the Work

The Paper Weighs Nothing (2014) is a seminal David Shrigley print that epitomises the artist's celebrated graphic minimalism. Executed in stark monochrome on heavy paper, the composition features a hand-drawn depiction of a blank sheet alongside his signature, block-capital text. This deceptively simple presentation subverts the physical reality of the print medium, creating an engaging tension between the visual subject and the material object itself.

By declaring that the physical substrate lacks weight, the work engages with a delightful sense of absurdity that characterises Shrigley's finest text-based creations. The deliberate crudeness of the line drawing contrasts with the philosophical weight of the statement, inviting viewers to contemplate the existential void of empty space. Ultimately, the composition functions as a self-referential joke, pointing directly to its own fragile, material existence.

David Shrigley

As a Turner Prize nominee and creator of the celebrated Fourth Plinth commission Really Good in Trafalgar Square, David Shrigley has secured a unique position in contemporary British art. His works are held in premier international institutions, including the Tate and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. This widespread institutional recognition has solidified his status as one of the most influential satirical voices of his generation.

The transition from rapid, daily ink drawings to the formal print medium allows his urgent, immediate line to be preserved on a grander scale. Each David Shrigley print acts as a fragment of a larger, ongoing commentary on the mundanity and confusion of modern life. His graphic works translate the intimacy of his sketchbook directly onto the gallery wall with effortless graphic impact.

Screenprint Process

While the artist is widely celebrated for his screenprint editions, his collaborative work with master printers reveals a deep engagement with diverse printmaking methodologies. This particular edition utilises traditional lithography, capturing the exact, greasy texture of the artist's original tusche and crayon marks on the limestone matrix. The rich, velvety black ink sits beautifully upon the heavy, off-white wove paper, preserving the tactile quality of the hand-drawn line.

Working with the prestigious print studio Edition Copenhagen, the artist oversaw the meticulous transfer of his spontaneous drafting style to the stone. This David Shrigley limited edition print demonstrates a masterful control of tonal contrast, where the negative space of the paper is just as active as the printed mark. The resulting edition of 100 serves as a testament to the enduring synergy between the artist and his publishers.

Collectability

Text-driven compositions by the artist consistently attract the highest levels of collector interest due to their immediate visual punch and universal conceptual appeal. The Paper Weighs Nothing represents the pinnacle of this graphic category, stripping away all superfluous detail to focus purely on language and form. Such recognisable imagery makes this work an exceptionally strong anchor piece for both emerging and established contemporary art collections.

Representing an important text piece from his highly active 2014 printmaking period, the piece remains a particularly desirable example of the artist's graphic output. Given the modest edition size of just 100, examples of this print are increasingly difficult to source on the secondary market. Its clever, self-referential humour ensures that the work continues to enjoy sustained demand among global collectors.