Baku Maeda 'Water Dragon' Print Available

Artist: Baku Maeda
Title: Water Dragon
Medium: Hand Pulled 9 Color Screen Print
Size: 50 x 50 cm
Edition: 20
Prices: $225 AUD

 

Baku Maeda is a multidisciplinary Japanese artist based in Sapporo who is widely recognized for his whimsical and inventive approach to natural materials. He gained international prominence through his unique Ribbonesia project, where he transforms simple colorful ribbons into intricate three-dimensional sculptures of animals and plants. This work emphasizes the concept that a single linear material can be folded and manipulated to represent the complexity of life. Maeda often explores the intersection of artificiality and nature, using mass-produced items to recreate organic forms.

Beyond ribbon art, Maeda is known for his Leaf Beast series. In this collection, he carves delicate, expressive faces into fallen leaves, turning decaying foliage into charming characters. This practice highlights his ability to find hidden personalities within the mundane elements of the environment. His creative philosophy often centers on the idea of discovery, suggesting that art exists in the overlooked details of daily life.

Maeda also works as an illustrator and art director, contributing to various commercial projects and exhibitions. His style is characterized by a balance of Japanese minimalist precision and a playful, surreal sense of humor. Whether he is working with fabric, paper, or organic debris, his craftsmanship remains meticulously detailed. By recontextualizing common objects, Maeda encourages viewers to reconsider their relationship with the physical world. His body of work serves as a reminder that creativity requires no exotic tools, only a keen eye for the potential inherent in the simplest shapes and textures found in nature and industry.