Nifty Planet

A World of Black and White Created from a Piece of Paper Collection by Kiriken Masayo

Masayo Fukuda is a Kirigami artist known as "Masayo Kiriken". Her work is "a world of black and white using only one sheet of white paper.

When she was a high school student, she suddenly felt that her message cards were not enough and started to cut them into heart shapes, which led her to paper cutting. She has been teaching herself to cut pictures for more than 30 years since then. She combines her drawing ability, which she has been honing since childhood, with his cutting technique, which is regarded as a superb technique, to create works with a three-dimensional feel and full of life that cannot be believed to have been created from a single piece of connected paper.

She is obsessed with "expressing living things without expression", and aims to express the unassuming way of life of living creatures in the natural world through her straight, dignified eyes. For this reason, the impressions received from her works vary from person to person. Her work has been highly praised by experts in Europe and the United States, and she actively participates in auctions and exhibitions all over the world. She uses only white paper, a mechanical pencil, a design cutter, a cutter mat, and a penlight.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

* If you purchase a hybrid NFT set or want to join the lottery for free mini cutout, you must fill out this form to ensure you receive your item. You are responsible for submitting this information.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflAHjm-vySMVD1qenIuiGuv4-4tZURTC6Ioe3Wknn43BvIfQ/viewform

Digital NFT: Octopus

Creator name: _Kiriken_Masayo_
Digital NFT: Octopus
Layers upon layers of mysterious beauty.
I was very particular about the depth and three-dimensionality of the overlapping tentacles. I had a lot of trouble with the rough sketching stage, and had to draw it over and over again, look at it from a distance, draw it, and redraw it. It took about two months from the rough sketch to completion.
I left a lot of paper on the front part of the overlapping legs, and made the lines on the back part of the legs extremely thin. I've always been conscious of the three-dimensional effect in my previous works, but I think I was able to achieve that effect more than ever in my octopus work.
Sold to private collection

Digital NFT: King of Herring

Creator name: _Kiriken_Masayo_
Digital NFT: King of Herring
This was the first work in which I was conscious of shading and three-dimensionality, and where there were no scales to begin with, I expressed shading through the strength of small patterns. It took me one month to do the rough sketch and six months to cut out.
Sold to private collection

Digital NFT: Nautilus

Creator name: _Kiriken_Masayo_
Digital NFT: Nautilus
In order to express a sense of three-dimensionality and depth, I left a lot of white in the foreground, cut the background thin and delicate, and eliminated the outlines of the darkest areas.
Sold to private collection

Users who purchase ALL 3 of the above NFTs will be entered into a special drawing to win one of my physical hand made mini cutouts. 5 Winners!

Example of mini cutout: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GmoFwTHEdK9Ehb88NTRLynWAI7_N7x1S/view?usp=sharing

Hybrid NFT 1: Octopus

Creator name: _Kiriken_Masayo_
Digital NFT: Octopus

+ Online Live Event Ticket (*)
You can purchase one of my "No. 1" products as an NFT, and also get the right to participate in a special online live event with me.
Sold to private collection

Hybrid NFT 2: Octopus

Creator name: _Kiriken_Masayo_
Digital NFT: Octopus

+ Online Live Event Ticket (*)

+ Octopus Giclee print (limited edition signed and serial numbered physical art)
You can purchase one of my "No. 1" physical & digital products, and also get the right to participate in a special online live event with me.

Using the latest Giclee printmaking techniques, a limited edition of 200 copies of "Octopus" will be made, and only 100 of those 200 copies will be available for sale. The print is made on high quality original paper containing cotton, which is extremely durable and will not fade for over 100 years. Signatures and serial numbers will be affixed to the hand-made paper cutouts. I hope you will enjoy my masterpiece, Octopus, close at hand.

(Example of Giclee prints:) https://kiriken.thebecos.com/en/product/octopus-giclee/
Sold to private collection

Hybrid NFT 3: Octopus

Creator name: _Kiriken_Masayo_
Digital NFT: Octopus

+ Online Live Event Ticket (*)

+ Octopus Giclee print (limited edition signed and serial numbered physical art)

+ A4 size Order Made Papercut Art (1 of 1 physical art - Delivery time is 2~4 months)
You can purchase one of my "No. 1" products as an NFT, the right to participate in the online live event, and limited edition physical print together!

I will also create a custom-made A4 size paper cutout for you. We'll create it on any theme you like, just ask us! A 1 of 1 ultra rare piece of art!

(Example of Giclee prints:) https://kiriken.thebecos.com/en/product/octopus-giclee/
1 items in total
1 items left
Sold to private collection

Connect Wallet

Hybrid NFT 4: Octopus

Creator name: _Kiriken_Masayo_
Digital NFT: Octopus

+ Photo Art Book w/Artist's Signature (physical art)
You can purchase one of my "No. 1" products as an NFT, and the first book of my work released in 2020.
Sold to private collection

Hybrid NFT 5: Octopus

Creator name: _Kiriken_Masayo_
Digital NFT: Octopus

+ Online Live Event Ticket (*)

+ Photo Art Book w/Artist's Signature (physical art)
You can purchase one of my "No. 1" products as an NFT, my first book of work released in 2020, and the right to participate in an online live event.
Sold to private collection

Hybrid NFT 6: Octopus

Creator name: _Kiriken_Masayo_
Digital NFT: Octopus

+ Cassowary Giclee Print (limited edition signed and serial numbered physical art)
You can buy one. of my "No. 1" products as an NFT and a physical print of the lovely Cassowary duckling.

Females have larger bodies and crowns than males, giving them a truly queenly appearance. The crown is ornamented to express a majestic and beautiful figure.

Using the latest Giclee printmaking techniques, 50 of the 200 limited edition prints of "Queen of the Birds" will be available for sale. The print is made on high quality original paper containing cotton, which is extremely durable and will not fade for over 100 years. Signatures and serial numbers will be affixed to hand-made cutouts. Please enjoy "Queen of the Birds (Hydrangea)", which was a turning point in my art making, in your own home.

(Example of Giclee prints:) https://kiriken.thebecos.com/en/product/cassowary-giclee/
Sold to private collection

Hybrid NFT 7: Octopus

Creator name: _Kiriken_Masayo_
Digital NFT: Octopus

+ King of Herrings Paper Craft (limited edition signed and serial numbered physical art). Collaboration with Mr. Watari of W2STUDIO.
You can purchase one of my "No.1" products as an NFT, and a physical paper craft of Ryugyunotukai.

This is the first work in which I was conscious of shading and three-dimensionality, and where there were originally no scales, I expressed shading with the strength of small patterns. It took me one month to draw and six months to cut it out.

I want as many people as possible to enjoy paper cutouts so I created this art item in collaboration with paper craft artist "W2STUDIO President, Mr. Watari", and 50 of the limited edition of 200 pieces will be sold. Mr. Watari, who has worked on items for many famous companies, did an incredible job responding to my detailed requests with persistence. Thanks to his efforts, I am very happy to have completed an art item that even I, the artist, mistook for the original work. I hope you will enjoy the work from various angles, such as displaying it in a frame of your choice or collecting it since it is a limited production.

(Giclee print example:) https://kiriken.thebecos.com/product/ryuugu-laser/
Sold to private collection

Hybrid NFT 8: Octopus

Creator name: _Kiriken_Masayo_
Digital NFT: Octopus

+ Nautilus Paper Craft (limited edition signed and serial numbered physical art). Collaboration with Mr. Watari of W2STUDIO.
You can buy one. of my "No. 1" products as an NFT and a physical print of the mysterious Nautilus.

In order to create a sense of three-dimensionality and depth, I left a lot of white in the foreground, cut the background thin and delicate, and eliminated the outlines in the darkest areas.

I want as many people as possible to enjoy paper cutouts so I created this art item in collaboration with paper craft artist "W2STUDIO President, Mr. Watari", and 50 of the limited edition of 200 will be sold. Mr. Watari, who has worked on items for many famous companies, did an incredible job responding to my detailed requests with persistence. Thanks to his efforts, I am very happy to have completed an art item that even I, the artist, mistook for the original work. I hope you will enjoy the work from various angles, such as displaying it in a frame of your choice or collecting it since it is a limited production.

(Giclee print example:) https://kiriken.thebecos.com/product/s0037-039/
Sold to private collection

Hybrid NFT 9: Octopus

Creator name: _Kiriken_Masayo_
Digital NFT: Octopus

+ Orchid Scarf (physical art). Collaboration with Gilda Yokohama.
You can buy one of my "No.1" products as NFT, and a beautiful physical scarf with an orchid motif designed by me.

I wondered if it would be possible for people to enjoy paper cutouts on the go. With this in mind, I collaborated with Gilda Yokohama, a top group of Yokohama scarf craftsmen, to create these scarves. This time, I conducted a Twitter survey among our followers and created the most popular "orchid" as a motif. The scarf is made of 100% silk and is very soft to the touch, so please try it.

＜What is Yokohama scarf? ＞What is Yokohama scarf?

Yokohama Scarf is a national brand of 100% silk scarves made with the world's highest standard of plate making, dyeing, and sewing techniques, and Gilda Yokohama has produced many scarves for famous and prestigious brands. Although the main purpose of kirigami is for viewing, scarves can be worn at any time and can be enjoyed.

(Example of orchid scarf:) https://kiriken.thebecos.com/en/product/orchid-stall/
Sold to private collection

(*) Details of Online Event to be announced here:　https://kiriken.thebecos.com/95156/

Kiriken Masayo

＜Masayo's Voice＞:

"I aim to create beautiful and delicate art like a pencil drawing in a monochromatic world drawn by cutting out a sheet of paper. We aim to create works that are realistic, beautiful, delicate, and have a sense of presence and three-dimensionality. I believe that there is a lot of fun to be had in this world of limitations.

"A world of black and white, using only one sheet of white paper. How far can I express myself only by cutting out with a design knife?

I have been obsessed with this for a long time.

"No coloring. No folding. I don't use shadow effects. It's all connected into one piece." However, I was fascinated by the sense of accomplishment I felt when I was able to create a satisfying expression with only a limited number of techniques.

I started out with a single heart-shaped paper cutout and gradually became more and more complex, and through repeated trial and error, I aimed to create a natural work with shade and depth, using a method of expression that I was originally good at, and ended up with my current expression, "a world of black and white using only a sheet of white paper."

Another of my passions is to express living things without expression. Aside from animals that have been deeply involved with people as pets, I have always thought that animals living in the natural world do not envy better circumstances or grieve over their own situation, but rather look at their own situation without hesitation. I aim to express their straightforward and dignified gaze. I leave it up to the viewer to decide how you will perceive the expression.

I sometimes receive very different comments on the same single picture, such as "it looks gentle," "it looks melancholy," or "it looks strange."

I am happy if each person who sees my work and completes it in his or her own way, in their own minds, for example, "This is a work with a gentle gaze.

In the future, I may receive various pieces of advice such as "why don't you add color" or "why don't you use shadows?

I would appreciate it if you would warmly watch over my stubbornness and allow me to continue creating with simplicity."

＜W2STUDIO President, Mr. Watari's voice＞:

This art item uses the same tanto paper as the original work, and faithfully reproduces the ultra-precise cutouts of the original work. One of the characteristics of Mr. Fukuda's works is that they are ultra-precise paper cutouts that require precision of 0.01 to 0.1mm. To recreate this, I decided to use a laser cutting machine, and selected a paper suitable for laser processing by repeating various experiments among more than several hundred types of tanto paper. We made special jigs and tools to improve the precision of the cut, and even then, we used a magnifying glass to check and adjust the ultra-detailed parts that could not be reproduced by laser cutting. The finishing touches include eliminating fine cut dust and burnt areas, and many other manual processes from start to finish. The result is an art item that we can confidently recommend as "as good as Mr. Fukuda's original work.We hope you will pick it up and enjoy the world of Ms. Fukuda.