yoshihiro watanabe interview | diversity in the arts today

In 2019 Tomoko Ogawa went to visit Yoshihiro Watanabe at his home in Kumamoto, spending time chatting with his mother about his art practice and watching young Watanabe work. The online interview in English and Japanese, gives a snapshot of his life and how his creations have developed over time. A short excerpt here:

“What Yoshihiro gives birth with his scissors are land and sea animals (excluding humans), dinosaurs, and insects. Without using a knife and just with scissors he is able to cut out delicately the inside of the paper. Bone structures and muscles are beautifully cut out like laces. Yoshihiro quietly moves his fingers as if he is executing a 3D blueprint that is stored in his brain. He sits straight on a cushion on the floor and cuts into the paper like he is using a brush to write calligraphy.”