tiny leaves with cut-outs portray joyful animals as silhouette artworks

"Japanese artist Lito portrays joyful animals in nature as silhouette artworks using paper cut-out technique on tiny leaves. Instead of adding material on the foliage, the artist removes it, carving images on the surface and depicting gleeful fauna. In his hands, this practice of cutting becomes a narrative that uses nature as the primary character. His leaves have been cut into the shape of a fish, raccoon, birds, reindeer, rabbits, frogs, owls, and so many more."

"Their bodies are filled with a repeating scale pattern created by dozens of small, evenly spaced openings, and the details of their faces and features are defined by thin lines left behind by careful cutting. Viewers are invited to see the cut-out leaves in person in the two ongoing exhibitions of Lito at the Kami City Takashi Yanase Memorial Museum in Kochi Prefecture, Japan, until February 8th, 2026,"

"SILHOUETTE artworks that require precise cutting The leaf cut-outs by the Japanese artist Lito float against the sky when held gently by hand, underlining the small animals, gentle humor, and quiet scenes of the artworks. Technically, the process demands focus since each cut must be precise and cannot be redone. The image must be visualized fully before the blade touches the leaf, so the artist draws on it first before starting the cuts."

Lito crafts silhouette animal artworks by precisely cutting tiny leaves rather than adding material, carving detailed images and patterns into the foliage. The artworks feature repeating scale-like openings and thin line details that define faces and features. Many leaves are shaped into fish, raccoon, birds, reindeer, rabbits, frogs, owls, and more. The cut-outs float against the sky when held, emphasizing small animals, gentle humor, and quiet scenes. The technique requires full visualization and careful drawing before cutting because each incision is final. Lito began leaf cutting in 2020 as a self-taught practice linked to managing ADHD and now exhibits widely in Japan.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine