From a single sheet of white paper, Seattle-based artist Kanako Abe creates beautiful silhouettes of children and young adults fused with natural landscapes. She uses the Japanese technique called Kirie to elaborate her pieces that feature figures such as moonlit forests, fish swimming in the water, mountainous landscapes, and branches.
I don’t have a chance to change the design once I start cutting, so I find it challenging. I have to think of the right patterns, controlling negative space, and make sure all the lines are connected so the art won’t fall apart once it’s finished. (…) I find the process of art-making is a way for me to meditate on everyday thoughts and emotions, and it’s much easier for me to express complex feelings or emotions visually than verbally. The cycle of nature teaches us about the power of letting go or accept things as they are and that there’s a silver lining in everything.
Kanako Abe