Mice picking strawberries. Umbrella-wielding frogs. Ocean waves. A Japanese artist cuts delicate designs into fallen leaves. His artistry imbues what has begun to decay with a sense of new life.
Lito, who chooses to go by that name, began creating leaf art in 2020. He posts images of his latest handiwork almost every day on social media. His whimsical pieces—most of which feature animals acting like humans—have garnered fans from around the world.
Lito often works on his intricate leaf-cuttings at night. He treats the leaves with a smoothing chemical before placing one on a board.
With his right hand, he pens a design onto the leaf. With his left hand, he carefully slices. Slowly, images emerge: a mouse, a bunny, and a frog on a swing set; a rabbit family placing a pie into an oven; a butterfly hovering over a field of flowers.
Sometimes Lito’s cuttings celebrate a holiday, a movie, or a book character. Mostly, he brings ordinary memories and events to his spectacular work. His leaf-cuttings include titles such as “Scrolls of Frolicking Animals,” “Leaf Aquarium,” and “If You Give Me One More Pocky, I’ll Be Your Friend Again.”
Lito often incorporates the God-designed parts of the leaf in the piece. For example, a stem becomes a bench for a trio of knitting animals or a whale’s gushing spout.
A complicated design on a single leaf can take more than eight hours, says Lito, who prefers to “finish it in one go.”
Lito says he’s had high levels of concentration and patience since childhood. But he admits he had trouble fitting in at school or at work. He struggled to read others’ feelings and to avoid conflicts.
After years of difficulty, Lito received a diagnosis of ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) at age 30. He believes the disorder helps explain why he has always worked differently. He began adjusting his life and work to accommodate his learning style.
In an interview on a website called Persephone Social, Lito says, “I looked for a job where I could use this weakness as a strength, and what I found was leaf cutouts.”
Word of Lito’s talent has spread. He’s published books on leaf-cutting and holds regular solo exhibits across Japan.
“If I can make people happy by doing what I am doing,” Lito says, “I want to do more.”
His leaf-cuttings definitely bring smiles—and amazement. After seeing them, you’ll probably never look at a leaf the same again!
Let the Earth sprout vegetation. . . . And God saw that it was good. — Genesis 1:11-12
Why? Lito’s leaf-cutting creates art upon art—since God’s amazing design is already present in the shape, color, veining, and stem structure of every leaf on every plant on the planet.
Recommended Reading: For more about artists who work with items from the great outdoors, read Andy Goldsworthy: A Collaboration with Nature.
