In re(wind), Baptist Coelho explores the fundamental element of air while reflecting on his childhood memories of making and flying paper airplanes. Paper airplanes are deceptively simple, handmade objects, fragile forms that stand in contrast to the complex technologies of today. This site-specific installation reflects on the basic act of folding paper and the magical moment of flight. As the airplanes surge inward, the window becomes a portal, an opening through which imagination, longing, and the passage of time converge. The suspended airplanes appear to hover between two worlds: the interior, present world and an exterior world of the past. The installation also evokes the essence of childhood and its inherent impermanence.

re(wind), was developed during Baptist Coelho’s year-long Master of Arts (MA) at Birmingham Institute of Art & Design (BIAD), UK, 2005-06. The artwork was first exhibited as part of the artist’s solo exhibition, air(edge)air at BIAD, from 23 to 27 October 2006.

While researching re(wind), Coelho recognised that the act of making paper airplanes is a universal symbol of a child’s need to play, learn, and engage with their surroundings. Building on this idea, the Paper Airplane Project has expanded since 2008 through collaborations with schools across Asia, Europe and South Africa. It has become a playful and meaningful way for children to express themselves and visualise their dreams and aspirations.