Nahoko Kojima
Meet the artist
Are you aware of the endless possibilities that paper hold? Paper has always been deemed as a crucial material required in every artist’s art-making process. Yet, paper seldom takes the center stage in an artwork, often regarded as a secondary medium.
Meet Nahoko Kojima, a paper artist challenging this notion. A professional contemporary Japanese paper cut artist, born in Hyogo, Japan, she started Kirie (Japanese Paper Cutting) at the age of 5 and continued throughout her formative years, creating spectacular intricate sculptures formed from single sheets of paper cut out by hand.
Meet the artist
While browsing through various websites, looking for inspiring sculpture artists, I chanced upon the works of Nahoko Kojima. Nahoko Kojima is a professional contemporary Japanese paper cut artist, born in Hyogo, Japan. Starting "Kirie" (Japanese Paper Cutting) at the age of five, she continued creating spectacular intricate sculptures formed from single sheets of paper cut out by hand.
I found the works made by Nahoko Kojima fascinating as she made me more aware of the endless possibilities that paper holds and how it can transcend beyond 2-dimensionality into 3D sculpture.
When I was a child I would lie down on my back on the grass and draw the underside of flowers. I think when we discover a hidden beauty, we leave our bodies and look on ourselves, the object and environment, all as one lovely epiphany.
“
”
When I was a child I would lie down on my back on the grass and draw the underside of flowers. I think when we discover a hidden beauty, we leave our bodies and look on ourselves, the object and environment, all as one lovely epiphany.
“
”
Cloud Leopard, Como Italy
The Cloud
Leopard
Deeply inspired by nature that surrounds her, Kojima is known to create one-off designs that are never duplicated and often based on the forces of nature.
My favourite work of hers is a life-sized “Cloud Leopard” paper sculpture made from only one hand-cut sheet of black paper. Suspended from the ceiling, this artwork is a sculptural representation of the leopard intertwined with an intriguing narrative and hidden characters. While the creating process took nearly five months to complete, the piece was a successful one. Kojima’s pioneering technique—turning traditionally flat wall-hung pieces into sculptures floating in exhibition halls—has helped her achieve immense public recognition.
Cloud Leopard, Saatchi Gallery
The art making process
The video above shows small snippets of how Kojima makes her sculptures. Learning more about Kojima's art has spurred my motivation to try out other non-conventional means of making art. I have also realised that sometimes ideas can come from the least expected places. After all, as long as we are willing to look hard enough and have the courage to take up the challenge, we can ultimately create unique artworks that we can call our own.
View Kojima's art-making process here:
Find out more
If you are interested to find out more, feel free to check out Kojima’s official website at http://www.nahokokojima.com/paper-artist/ for more information.
References:
-
Artdaily.org - The First Art Newspaper on the Net, artdaily.com/news/83752/Japanese-paper-cut-artist-Nahoko-Kojima-creates-an-intricate-floating-three-dimensional-sculpture#.XP4GvJ_VK3U.
-
Papercutartist. “The Cloud Leopard Papercut Sculpture.” Solo Kojima, 21 May 2012, www.solokojima.com/cloud-leopard-papercut-sculpture-unveiled-at-the-saatchi-gallery/.
-
Wright, Karen, et al. “Paper Artist: Paper Sculpture: Nahoko Kojima.” Nahoko Kojima 小島 奈保子, 18 Sept. 2013, www.nahokokojima.com/paper-artist/.
All Images Courtesy of Solo Kojima via solokojima.com.
Written and Designed by Alicia Tay, Feb 2020
*THE ARTIST NAHOKO KOJIMA HAS GRANTED US PERMISSION TO PUBLISH THIS ARTICLE.