Woodland Creatures Inhabit an Imaginary World in Kanako Abe’s Intricate Paper Cuts — Colossal

In tender paper collages featuring woodland creatures in relief, Kanako Abe imagines dreamlike scenes reminiscent of childhood narratives and folk tales. Giant wolves, diminutive bunnies, and curious deer wander through a Narnia-like realm that we glimpse through foliage-filled portals. In her practice, “the paper becomes a canvas for stories untold, where every cut is a deliberate step into a world where imagination and reality intertwine,” a statement says.

Paper-cutting has long been a central tenet of Abe’s practice, which she recently applied to an ambitious forthcoming book project in collaboration with young adult novelist Caryl Lewis. The Paper Girl, published by Frances Lincoln Ltd., follows the adventures of a young protagonist who folds herself into different forms in response to others’ comments and directives only to learn how to stand up for herself by summoning the power of “no.”

The Paper Girl is slated for release on October 6. Pre-order your copy on Bookshop, and if you provide proof of purchase via a form on Quarto, you’ll receive a signed bookplate by Abe. The artist is currently working toward a curatorial endeavor at Giant Robot Gallery scheduled to open in January, which will also include her work. And next April, she’ll participate in a group exhibition at Childhood’s End Gallery in Olympia, Washington. Keep an eye on updates on Instagram.