JR CHUO

Paper cut and spray paint artist JR CHUO creates intricate hand-designed paper artworks. Still a teenager at the time of publishing, CHUO has been honing his practice for over 6 years. Despite the precise nature of CHUO’s work, his designs are often expressive, containing a myriad of fascinating leading lines and shapes that capture the viewer’s attention. He says, “Paper is often viewed as a simple base material, but my work highlights the medium’s complex inner structure and unique beauty. Each individual paper-cut shape is different and thousands of these shapes work together in harmony to form large seamless designs.” CHUO always considers the way in which light interacts with his work, building his pieces around this concept and he often photographs his work at sunrise, as the soft light complements the striking colours in his art and creates subtle shadows. Influences in CHUO’s work range from the traditional Japanese art forms of kirie and ensō, to street art and graffiti. CHUO’s artistic process is labour intensive, requiring deep focus on the present moment. Cutting all of his designs by hand, one small paper-cut piece usually takes several weeks to complete. The final pieces are often suspended in fluorescent acrylic, drawing attention to the detail and precision of the artwork.

See more work from JR CHUO at jrchuo.com