Yuken Teruya manipulates traditional paper-cutting methods, putting a modern spin on the ancient Japanese art of kirigami (a form of origami whereby the paper is sliced as well as folded).
Yuken Teruya manipulates traditional paper-cutting methods, putting a modern spin on the ancient Japanese art of kirigami (a form of origami whereby the paper is sliced as well as folded).
Courtesy Galerie Valérie Bach
Teruya uses a scalpel knife rather than the traditional scissors to achieve a more complex cut that looks almost three-dimensional.
Teruya uses a scalpel knife rather than the traditional scissors to achieve a more complex cut that looks almost three-dimensional.
Courtesy Galerie Valérie Bach
Teruya uses unorthodox materials, including legal tender banknotes, McDonald's packaging and Prada shopping bags in his work.
Teruya uses unorthodox materials, including legal tender banknotes, McDonald's packaging and Prada shopping bags in his work.
Courtesy Galerie Valérie Bach
Fantasista Utamaro references manga and traditional Japanese illustration, though he reimagines them in new and alternative materials.
Fantasista Utamaro references manga and traditional Japanese illustration, though he reimagines them in new and alternative materials.
Courtesy Tokyoite Gallery
Some of the artist's best-known works have seen him layering acrylic paint and resin into blocks of carefully cut wood to produce bold, cartoon-like images.
Some of the artist's best-known works have seen him layering acrylic paint and resin into blocks of carefully cut wood to produce bold, cartoon-like images.
Courtesy Tokyoite Gallery
While the creations reference popular manga, the powerful visual effect is only achieved through the artist's knowledge of lacquering techniques.
While the creations reference popular manga, the powerful visual effect is only achieved through the artist's knowledge of lacquering techniques.
Courtesy Tokyoite Gallery
Aya Kawato has built a custom loom to produce intricate 2D canvases.
Aya Kawato has built a custom loom to produce intricate 2D canvases.
Courtesy of Pierre Yves Caer Gallery,
At first glance, her artworks look like pixelated printed images, though they are in fact intricately woven sheets of paper that Kawato has colored in high concentration -- with subtle variations --square by square.
At first glance, her artworks look like pixelated printed images, though they are in fact intricately woven sheets of paper that Kawato has colored in high concentration -- with subtle variations --square by square.
Courtesy Pierre Yves Caer Gallery
Having trained in historic textile techniques at university, Kawato has adapted her practice to produce these mesmerizing optical illusions.
Having trained in historic textile techniques at university, Kawato has adapted her practice to produce these mesmerizing optical illusions.
Courtesy of Pierre Yves Caer Gallery