Kazuhito Takadoi takes grasses, leaves and twigs from his garden and turns them into beautiful works of art. At his Liverpool studio, each element is dried and then woven, stitched or tied to washi paper to create an eye-catching composition.
Nature is, quite literally, Kazuhito Takadoi's inspiration. He combines elegant design with a fascination for plants - an obsession that started when he was a child. 'I grew up on the outskirts of Nagoya in Japan, which at the time was quite rural,' says Kazuhito. 'My grandparents were keen gardeners, so I picked up my interest from them.'
Having already studied horticulture in Japan and the US, Kazuhito enrolled on a Garden Art and Design degree at Leeds Metropolitan University. 'I remember visiting National Trust gardens on a trip to England when I was 17,' he recalls. 'I always wanted to study here. It was perfect for me as it was a chance to learn about environmental art.'
Describing his influences as a cross between the formality of Japanese floral art and landscape artists such as Andy Goldsworthy, Kazuhito turned his creative skills to paper. He began making sculptural Christmas cards for friends using natural materials he'd collected. 'It was just a hobby for me', he explains. 'But one day, a gallery asked me if I would consider recreating a piece on a larger scale.'
With increasing interest in his work, Kazuhito was able to set up his studio, whete today he creates circular pieces inspired by the woodland of his childhood home.
'most of what i use are materials that would end up on the compost heap' says Kazuhito. ' I like to make something with it that will keep forever.'