OVER 1000 AMAZING LEAF ART OF POP CULTURE REFERENCES<br />WITH PIX AND VID<br />BY Shuk Yee Tsang<br />Fragile fallen leaves are turned into miniature canvases of cult classics and pop culture lore.<br />In the hands of Kanat Nurtazin, 34, from Astana, Kazakhstan, the artist has created around 1,000 pieces, spending over 15,000 hours carefully hand-carving his designs.<br />His latest video shows the process of cutting a leaf portrait of Arda Güler, alongside other intricate carvings that include: The Joker, Harry Potter, the Titanic, Star <br />Wars, Lilo & Stitch, Alien vs Predator, Game of Thrones, a Russian doll, the Manchester United logo, a boxer, Lego, Venom, the Grinch, Breaking Bad, and anime classics like Naruto, Death Note, and My Neighbour Totoro.<br />Kanat said: “I started leaf art as a way to express myself using simple, natural materials.<br />" A leaf, for me, is like a blank canvas but also something fragile and temporary, just like a moment in time.<br />" What inspires me most is the idea of turning something ordinary into something memorable.<br />“My process usually starts with an idea or story I want to tell.<br />" I sketch it out first, then carefully select a leaf with the right shape and texture. Using a scalpel or fine blades, I carve out the design by hand, it’s a slow, precise <br />process where one small mistake can ruin the leaf.<br />“Because leaves are so fragile, I can spend hours carving a design only to have it tear at the very last moment.<br />" Once, a piece I loved dried out and crumbled before I could even photograph it.<br />“It’s very hard for me to choose a favourite piece because each one carries a special meaning. But if I had to pick, it would be the artwork inspired by a winning goal for Real Madrid. That moment was unforgettable for me as a huge fan.<br />“My leaf art has opened incredible opportunities, but it’s not fully commercialised. <br />"I also sell pieces for charity organising auctions to help low-income families buy food and winter clothes.<br />“Additionally, my leaf art is only one part of a bigger project I’ve been working on, called ‘100 Methods of Drawing.’ By this time I have learnt 86 methods.<br />"As a self-taught artist, I wanted this project to prove that with love and patience, you can learn anything you want.”<br />END
