WHERE THE ART OF COLLAGE MEETS THE ART OF GIFTING
Manuela Menzi Studio is where two artforms converge.
Collage is an artform that narrates a story through its fragments – individual pieces with multiple interpretations. At first glance, gift-giving is just an act or an indirect form of trading. When done correctly, gift-giving is an artform.
The Art of Collage
Collage, at its essence, is the art of assembly. Derived from the French word coller, meaning “to glue,” it first appeared as an artform in the early 20th century. Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso began layering scraps of paper, newspaper clippings, and fabric into their paintings. All these items were fragments of a composition that tells a story through the separate pieces that come together.
Similar techniques had existed for centuries. In 10th-century Japan, calligraphers practiced the technique of gluing paper fragments onto their work, while in and in medieval Europe, religious mosaics and manuscripts employed gold leaf and precious materials layered in a similar way.
Today, collage designs can be created digitally, different by carefully photoshopping different elements together. Every colour, every texture, and every single form reveals a part of the story.
After completing her studies at Central Saint Martins in London, Manuela Menzi opened her studio in Switzerland to converge her artform of choice, e-collage, with another one – the art of offering gifts.
The Art of Gift-Giving
Gift giving is an art as old as human society. It encourages the formation of social bonds, while carrying heavy symbolic meaning. Contrary to trading, gift-giving is a complex procedure. From the present itself to its presentation, every detail matters. The colour of the ribbon, the texture of the wrapping paper, the message on the card, they are all fragments of a work of art, ready to be received.
Just as the physical act of collage, including the process of mounting, cutting, and arranging, gifting feels meditative. Folding wrapping paper corners neatly, tying a ribbon, writing a heartfelt message in ink, all signal that time and attention were given.
The link between collage and gifting is therefore not only aesthetic but emotional. Both are forms of storytelling. Both rely on intentional layering. And, finally, both elevate the ordinary into something memorable.
Manuela Menzi Studio bridges the two artforms by offering premium wrapping paper, cards, and gifting accessories featuring her original collage designs, all inspired by the beauty of details — the fold of a ribbon, the texture of paper, the grace of a handwritten note.
All products are available online and in selected stores, including the Swiss National Museum’s gift shop.