SHOTA KATSUBE

Shota Katsube (b.1991) is known for meticulously crafting miniature warriors from colourful vinyl twist ties that are commonly used to seal small bags. He has created several hundred warriors at home, paying particular attention to the overall colour palette, as well as to the detailed colouring of specific parts such as the face, legs, knees, and hands. The figures are produced using small scissors and nippers, taking 1-2 hours to complete. By finely cutting vinyl ties—only a few millimetres wide—and altering their shapes, he creates subtle variations in the forms of weapons and the costumes worn by each individual warrior. He favours working with vinyl ties he finds at 100-yen shops (50p shops). 

The tiny scale is, according to Katsube, the size with which he finds it easiest to work, with each work around 3cm/1 inch tall. As a primary school pupil, he was fond of warriors that appeared in animated programmes. Although he wanted warrior toys, his pocket money was insufficient to purchase them, which led him to begin making his own of his original designs. His work has not been available to buy publicly until now.

Click the thumbnails to see larger images and more details. Further artworks are available on request.

2020 Under a Sky Full of Stars, the Raw Stones of Creation Also Shine—A Changing, Crossing, Expanding World, Shibuya Park Gallery, Tokyo
2017 Japanese Art Brut “KOMOREBI”, Le Lieu Unique, National Centre for Contemporary Arts, France
2013 SOUZOU: Outsider Art From Japan, Wellcome Collection, London