Matchbox Matches, 2026

Paul Sous  

Paul Sous, also known as Käpten Nobbi, was born in 1990 in Stolberg, Germany, and lives and works in Aachen. From 2007 to 2010, he trained as a sign and illuminated advertising manufacturer, followed by a foundation diploma in design at the GuT Vocational College from 2011 to 2012. He then studied Craft Design at the Akademie Gut Rosenberg of the Chamber of Crafts Aachen from 2013 to 2016. Since 2017, he has been working as a self-employed artist.

Guided by his motto, “Don't throw it away—there's still something to be made from it," Sous sources his materials from recycling centers, construction site containers, and discarded bulky waste. He frequently incorporates everyday objects, such as milk cartons, giving them a new life within his work. Each piece—whether a painting or a sculpture—is unique, as the materials themselves carry their own histories. The colors and shapes of these found objects serve as the starting point for his creative process.

Drawing on his background in illuminated signage, Sous is particularly interested in creating works that go beyond pure aesthetics and take on an additional function, for example as light objects. His works often carry a playful character and do not always take themselves too seriously.