Nahoko Kojima’s Monumental Yet Poetic Paper Sculptures
The artist reinvents ‘kirigami’, the art of cutting paper, in her colossal pieces that give off a captivating sense of fragility.
Courtesy of solokojima.com
Known for her many sculptures of flowers and animals, Nahoko Kojima, born in 1981, is reinventing kirigami, the art of cutting paper. Using techniques that are unique to her, she transforms washi (a type of artisanal Japanese paper) into an impressive polar bear that’s three metres tall, or a 32-metre-long whale.
This life-size whale, unveiled at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre in September 2018, catches the gaze particularly due to Kojima’s attention to detail: the whole surface is covered with complex patterns that demonstrate Nahoko Kojima’s dexterity. The immense sculpture made from cut paper therefore appears, in spite of its size, to float just above the ground.
Nahoko Kojima’s work can be viewed on her website.
Courtesy of solokojima.com
Courtesy of solokojima.com
Courtesy of solokojima.com
Courtesy of solokojima.com
Courtesy of solokojima.com
TRENDING
-
A Child's Snowy Quest to Find his Father
The silent film ‘The Night I Swam’ follows the journey of Takara, a young boy alone in an adult world he is yet to understand.
-
The Tattoos that Marked the Criminals of the Edo Period
Traditional tattoos were strong signifiers; murderers had head tattoos, while theft might result in an arm tattoo.
-
Iñigo Gutierrez's Calligraphic Illustrations
Inspired by ‘shodo’, Japanese calligraphy, the Spanish artist who now lives in Tokyo conveys a certain nostalgia in his work.
-
Celebrating Nature Through Cuisine in ‘Wild Herbs’
In this book, Michelin-starred chef Hisao Nakahigashi reflects on his childhood memories, his philosophy of cooking, and shares his recipes.
-
Old Age Unveiled in the Illustrated Book ‘Otoshiyori’
In this book that's like a travel journal created in a land of seniors, illustrator Isabelle Boinot depicts the daily lives of the elderly.