OVER 1000 AMAZING LEAF ART OF POP CULTURE REFERENCES
WITH PIX AND VID
BY Shuk Yee Tsang
Fragile fallen leaves are turned into miniature canvases of cult classics and pop culture lore.
In the hands of Kanat Nurtazin, 34, from Astana, Kazakhstan, the artist has created around 1,000 pieces, spending over 15,000 hours carefully hand-carving his designs.
His latest video shows the process of cutting a leaf portrait of Arda Güler, alongside other intricate carvings that include: The Joker, Harry Potter, the Titanic, Star
Wars, Lilo & Stitch, Alien vs Predator, Game of Thrones, a Russian doll, the Manchester United logo, a boxer, Lego, Venom, the Grinch, Breaking Bad, and anime classics like Naruto, Death Note, and My Neighbour Totoro.
Kanat said: “I started leaf art as a way to express myself using simple, natural materials.
" A leaf, for me, is like a blank canvas but also something fragile and temporary, just like a moment in time.
" What inspires me most is the idea of turning something ordinary into something memorable.
“My process usually starts with an idea or story I want to tell.
" I sketch it out first, then carefully select a leaf with the right shape and texture. Using a scalpel or fine blades, I carve out the design by hand, it’s a slow, precise
process where one small mistake can ruin the leaf.
“Because leaves are so fragile, I can spend hours carving a design only to have it tear at the very last moment.
" Once, a piece I loved dried out and crumbled before I could even photograph it.
“It’s very hard for me to choose a favourite piece because each one carries a special meaning. But if I had to pick, it would be the artwork inspired by a winning goal for Real Madrid. That moment was unforgettable for me as a huge fan.
“My leaf art has opened incredible opportunities, but it’s not fully commercialised.
"I also sell pieces for charity organising auctions to help low-income families buy food and winter clothes.
“Additionally, my leaf art is only one part of a bigger project I’ve been working on, called ‘100 Methods of Drawing.’ By this time I have learnt 86 methods.
"As a self-taught artist, I wanted this project to prove that with love and patience, you can learn anything you want.”
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