[ti:Japanese Artist Finds Peace in Cutting Leaves]
[al:Arts and Culture]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2024-12-21]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]A Japanese artist who creates detailed designs on fallen leaves says the process gives the leaves new life and also helps keep him healthy.
[00:16.69]The artist goes by the name Lito.
[00:19.57]He did not want to share his full name for personal reasons.
[00:24.87]Lito likes to cut, or carve, many different leaf designs.
[00:30.00]Examples of his work include a frog holding an umbrella, animals jumping happily, Japan's famous Mount Fuji and ocean waves.
[00:42.51]Lito began making his leaf art in 2020. 
[00:46.65]Now, he has many fans around the world who discovered his designs on social media.
[00:54.17]He recently told reporters from The Associated Press that his work also gives him peaceful feelings to help deal with a health issue.
[01:04.78]The condition Lito struggles with is called attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
[01:16.11]People with ADHD can experience difficulties such as mental focus, directing attention and organizing and controlling urges.
[01:29.37]The 38-year-old Lito said that in addition to helping him deal with his own issues, he hopes his art can give other people enjoyment as well.
[01:41.51]Lito likes working at night. 
[01:43.63]In a demonstration of his process, he showed that he first treats several leaves with a chemical to keep them from drying out. 
[01:54.86]Then, he chooses the one he wants to work on and places it on a cutting surface.
[02:01.80]He begins by making a design on the leaf with a pen.
[02:06.24]He then uses a special design knife to cut the leaf. 
[02:12.19]As he works slowly and carefully, one leaf begins to take the shape of a frog carrying an umbrella.
[02:20.72]Some of Lito's more complex creations on a single leaf can take more than eight hours to complete.
[02:29.57]He said he likes to finish a leaf in one sitting. 
[02:34.35]His leaf-cutting works include titles such as Scrolls of Frolicking Animals, Leaf Aquarium, and Thirty-six Views of Mt. Fuji: The Great Wave off Kanagawa.
[02:49.29]He often uses animals as his subject and each piece includes some of hisown personal elements.
[02:58.62]Since his childhood, Lito says he has had high levels of concentration and patience. 
[03:06.57]But no matter how hard he tried, he felt he could not meet expectations of behavior at school and work.
[03:15.39]He also struggled to understand others' feelings and to avoid conflict.
[03:21.55]After years of difficulty, he went to a hospital at age 30 and was told he has ADHD, a diagnosis he felt explained why he has always done things differently.
[03:34.64]Lito said he saw no reason to force himself to do things the same way as other people. 
[03:41.59]So, he decided to change his way of living.
[03:45.23]In early 2020, Lito learned about the art of leaf cutting.
[03:51.46]He saw it as the perfect use of his patience and concentration.
[03:56.25]Word of his skill has spread far across social media, and he has published books on his leaf-cutting work.
[04:05.50]And almost every month, he holds a showing of his art in different places in Japan.
[04:14.07]"If I can make people happy by doing what I am doing, I want to do more. That's my driving force for what's next," Lito said.
[04:25.31]I'm Jill Robbins.