NEWS · B2 Level - Part 1

Japanese Leaf Carving Artist

You may look at a leaf and see just that - a leaf. But this man sees a work of art trying to emerge.

Level: B2 · 15 sentences

Transcript

1. You may look at a leaf and see just that - a leaf.
2. But this man sees a work of art trying to emerge.
3. Japanese artist Lito saw a frog holding an umbrella in this leaf.
4. He says he's always seen things differently.
5. "Initially, I was trying to move along the track in front of me to fit in,"
6. "and I didn't even think of doing something different."
7. "But thanks to the ADHD diagnosis, I realized that I cannot reach the same results,"
8. "even if I work hard like others."
9. But his chosen canvas isn't easy to work with.
10. Not only are they small, leaves dry out and crumble after they've fallen.
11. He treats them with a chemical solution and then gets to work with his knife to cut and shape his vision for that leaf.
12. Leaf cutting also demands attention to detail.
13. "I've been exploring different methods, but the core value has always been to keep at it patiently."
14. He says his art gives him a bigger purpose than he has ever felt working ordinary jobs.
15. He also says that his driving force is to make people happy with his unusual art.