The art of kirigami of Japan is being introduced to Vietnamese people at the Japan Foundation Centre for Cultural Exchanges in the capital of Hanoi.


Kirigami (paper cut-outs in English) is a traditional Japanese art and a variation of origami (folding papers).
Typically, kirigami starts with a piece of paper with a folded base, which is then cut. The cuts are then opened and flattened to make the finished kirigami works, which are usually symmetrical objects such as pentagrams or orchid blossoms.


Kirigami is a common feature at Buddhist and Shinto festivals in Japan and is also widely used as decorative paper on New Year's Day. It is used to make paper lanterns, toys and folk handicrafts.
Kirigami master Kanako Yaguchi hopes the exhibition, entitled the World of Kirigami: A Hundred Flowers & Words will help audiences understand the art through her works.


Graduated from the Design Faculty of the Joshibi University of Art and Design, Yaguchi has published several books in English on kirigami, including The Art of Decorative Paper Stencils 1&2.


She is a regular on Japanese TV as an instructor for people trying kirigami at home.
The feature of Yaguchi's work is its axial symmetry. She is highly acclaimed for adding contemporary values to traditional handicrafts. Her original, cutting-edge patterns are used for new designs of Japanese traditional cloths and for advertisements.-VNA