This Paper Artist Is a Perfectionist

Image via kiriesousakukamasayo/Instagram

Put it simply: Masayo Fukuda has mastered the art of papercutting. Known in Japanese as Kirie, it is said to have developed after 610 AD when Tesuki Washi paper, invented in China, was brought to Japan by a Buddhist monk from Korea. The practice itself involves cutting intricate forms from a single sheet of white paper, which are then contrasted against a black background to reveal the unique design. 

“The way to make a basic paper cutting is to first draw a sketch on thin paper, put it on top of a black sheet of paper, which will become the final work, and then cut the two pieces together,” Fukuda further explained in an interview with X-Ray Magazine. According to her, the sketch makes or breaks the finished piece. “My work is either good or bad based on the sketch and its completeness,” she says.

“To make one artwork, I combine white paper, artistic skill, cutting techniques with a three-dimensional feeling on one piece of paper,” addsFukuda. Some of her more outstanding pieces include paper cut animals, with a special focus on marine life and underwater creatures.

“I would like to express depth and a three-dimensional feeling with my paper cutting art,” she further explains. “Therefore, I make large works, carefully using the contrast of the thickness and thinness of the line.”

Here are some highlights from her feed:

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銀座個展(6/17〜ギャラリーアートポイント ) テーマ 「白と黒の世界」 植物や鳥類、海洋生物がモチーフ。 白黒なのに鮮やかで美しい空間を 演出したい、、、そんな切り剣Masayoの世界感を作りだしたい、、、。 ぜひ、私の切り絵を観に来てください☆★ ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー 6月17日より6月22日まで 単独の個展を開催致します。 - 白と黒の世界 - 切り剣 Masayo 銀座一丁目、 GALLERY ART POINTにて 詳細は、私のオフィシャルサイトまで @kiriesousakukamasayo 久しぶりの単独展示となります。白い紙を用いてカッターの切り口のみで描く世界を直にご覧下さい。 一番近い最寄駅は有楽町線 新富町駅になります。 ………………………………………………………………………………… ■Please visit the profile link for SHOPPING→@kiriesousakukamasayo …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. #切り絵#アート#美術#紙#工芸#ハンドメイド #美 #超絶技巧 #切り絵アート #ペーパークラフト#綺麗 #深海魚#銀座個展 #cutout#papercraft#paperart#handcut#handmade#artwork #delicate#handcutpaper#paperartist#artwork#papercut#strictlypaperart#paperwork#paperdesign#papercutout#cutpaper#cutpaperart

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