An artist with a precise and delicate hand, Yuken Teruya's work includes several different series in which tiny and detailed trees are cut from books, toilet paper rolls and disposable bags.In each bag and roll, the shape of a tree is created without adding or removing anything, just by cutting out and folding the paper from the bag itself. Teruya’s works explore issues such as the growing consumerism of contemporary society, depleting natural resources and other problems associated with globalism, including the threat it poses to localized cultural traditions and identities.In his Notice – Forest Series, artist Yuken Teruya assembles small delicate trees from the cut out part of disposable bags. Then, he stands each tree in the same bag that it came from.above: Notice-Forest (Murata & Friends shot), Paper Bag,Glue 9.1/8” x 3.3/8” x 15.3/4”, 23 cm x 8cm x 40cm2007, Photo Yuken Teruyaabove: Notice- Forest (McDonald’s paper bag), Paper Bag, Glue6”x 3.1/2” x11”, 18 cm x 8cm x 28cm2005, Photo Yuken Teruyaabove: Notice-Forest (Moma), Moma Paper Bag, Glue8.1/4” x 4.1/3” x 13.3/8”, 21cm x 12cm x 34 cm2006, Photo Yuken Teruyaabove: Notice- Forest, Paper Bag, Glue7.1/8” x 3.3/8” x 11”, 18 cm x 8cm x 28cm2005, Photo Yuken Teruyaabove: Notice – Forest exhibition shot, 7 paper bags from different business fieldsGlue and bags, dimensions vary, 2005For his
and Rain Forest projects, he cut trees from toilet paper rolls creating both positive and negative images that are equally impressive.
above: Rain Forest ( Murata & Friends Gallery shot ), Toilet Paper Rolls, 2007For his Giving Tree Project, Yuken cut and created a tree from the pages of Shel Silverstein's wonderful children's book, The Giving Tree:above: Giving Tree Project, The Giving Tree Book7. 7/8” x 11.7/8” x 7. 7/8”, 20cm x 30 cm x 20 cm, 2007About the artist:Born in Okinawa, Japan in 1973, he received his MFA from the school of Visual Arts, New York in 2001. In 2007, he had a solo exhibition at The Asia Society in New York. His work was included in Greater New York 2005 at P.S.1 Contemporary art Center and was featured in the Yokohama International Triennial. Recent exhibitions include the Kunstwerein Wiesbaden in Germany; Free Fish at Asia Society in New York as well as various gallery exhibitions in the United States, Europe and Japan. In 2007, his work was featured in Shapes of Space, an exhibition at Guggenheim Museum New York. This fall, his work will be included in “Okinawa” at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Japan.See all of his work here.If cut paper art interests you, be sure to see these three artists:above: the amazing cut paper work of Peter Callesenabove: Helen Musselwhite's cut paper art and illustrationabove: Yulia Brodskaya's Paper Graphics
and Rain Forest projects, he cut trees from toilet paper rolls creating both positive and negative images that are equally impressive.
above: Rain Forest ( Murata & Friends Gallery shot ), Toilet Paper Rolls, 2007For his Giving Tree Project, Yuken cut and created a tree from the pages of Shel Silverstein's wonderful children's book, The Giving Tree:above: Giving Tree Project, The Giving Tree Book7. 7/8” x 11.7/8” x 7. 7/8”, 20cm x 30 cm x 20 cm, 2007About the artist:Born in Okinawa, Japan in 1973, he received his MFA from the school of Visual Arts, New York in 2001. In 2007, he had a solo exhibition at The Asia Society in New York. His work was included in Greater New York 2005 at P.S.1 Contemporary art Center and was featured in the Yokohama International Triennial. Recent exhibitions include the Kunstwerein Wiesbaden in Germany; Free Fish at Asia Society in New York as well as various gallery exhibitions in the United States, Europe and Japan. In 2007, his work was featured in Shapes of Space, an exhibition at Guggenheim Museum New York. This fall, his work will be included in “Okinawa” at The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Japan.See all of his work here.If cut paper art interests you, be sure to see these three artists:above: the amazing cut paper work of Peter Callesenabove: Helen Musselwhite's cut paper art and illustrationabove: Yulia Brodskaya's Paper Graphics
