Abstract, Intricate Paper Cuttings by JR CHUO

JR CHUO is a prolific paper cut and spray paint artist who is making a name for himself in the art world due to talent that is coupled with a strong work ethic and exceptional diligence. Paper cutting captured his attention nine years ago during a visit to Japan when he was just twelve years old. There he was introduced to ise katagami, the Japanese craft of making stencils that are used to dye cloth... for example, to print intricate designs on kimonos.

 

 

 

 

Currently, JR is focusing on capturing the essence of coral reefs and their delicate layers. "I aim to encourage an appreciation for the beauty of coral and versatility of paper cutting as an art form, and strive to use my art to create important environmental and social change around the world." 

 

JR lives in Cambridge, England and is a 2024 graduate of University of Cambridge where he earned a degree in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (focusing on Japanese Studies). I asked him how he managed to create a large body of work while studying and building an engaged social media following.

 

 

"It was quite challenging to balance the workload with my art and I found myself working more on art during the breaks. Social media content also takes a lot of time and thought, so I usually film and work early in the morning when I can. I am very excited to focus on art full-time now."

 

 

A self-described perfectionist, all of JR's designs are painstakingly hand cut. Each one takes several months to complete (for example, the fluoro pink piece shown above has a diameter of 120cm or 47 inches), yet he finds the precise process meditative and calming. He recommends using paper over 100gsm, particularly Japanese washi paper, and incorporates spray paint into the designs to capture the bright colors emitted by certain corals before they succumb to climate change. 

 

 Shinjuku, 2020 - his largest piece to date with a diameter of 1 meter 40cm

 

 

Recently JR has been working on a collection of work which suspends paper cut designs in acrylic, and resembles one of his older collections called CHUO lines. These new artworks will be released soon. 

His work process can be viewed here on Instagram, where he is @jrchuo, and don't miss this video in which he describes his inspiration for the coral reef project. 

 

 

Via his website, JR CHUO, you can explore previous papercut collections and sign up for his newsletter to learn of upcoming releases and exhibitions.