My mother-in-law got stroke and I was taking care of her during the day, almost 24 hours.
One day I was almost depressed and I thought I have to do something for myself.
I thought, okay, making art, something, and luckily I had an exacto knife at home and paper and stuff.
So I just started making paper cut.
After I finished one piece and I thought, oh, okay, I thought this is it. I can do this.
I mean, not for serious art in Korea, but I think I can do it better, better, better.
So that's how I started paper cutting.
I grew up in Japan in just a normal middle-class house.
When I was a child, there was no electronic gadgets.
So I pretty much played outside and indoor, watching TV, and in my case, drawing.
I really don't know why I started to have interest in art. I guess something natural inside.
The paper cut was in one of my favorite children's books.
That particular children's book with paper cut illustrations just stayed in my mind.
That was the key, I guess, to now.
For my daughter, I guess any children found to watch and funny.
I used to take pictures. Every time I had a chance, this funny moment, I had many pictures of my daughter.
After a few paper cut pieces are done, I thought, okay, now I want to make a very original thing.
The first thing I thought was, okay, those pictures of my daughter are perfect for this.
I guess my daughter is, I have to say, my muse, so I guess everything affects my paper cut.
Very time-consuming art.
I love using my hand and my brain and not computer or laser cutting machine.
It looks easy, maybe, but physically painful, but also meditation to me.
Most people said, never seen this art, like a paper cut before.
I see many people just kind of walk back and kind of look closer to my piece and then realize, oh, this is something, not drawing on a wall.
People say, how many papers do you use?
And I said, just one paper. And a few people just don't believe me.
Jacksonville local artist saw my work.
Immediately, she made contact with theater players by the sea, and I had group show there.
And that was the very first show in my life. And after that show, I guess I'm really lucky, just next show leads to next show.
And just until now, I guess I'm a full-time artist and it's like a dream.
I wanted to be artist and showing my art in gallery or museum, and that's like an artist's dream.
Hopefully, near future goal is going to be showing my paper cut in my hometown in Japan.
I just keep making my paper cut and if I have chance to show wherever in the world, that would be great.
