The artist known as “Karabako Shokunin Harukiru” (That’s “Empty Box Craftsman Harukiru” to you), snips and folds and glues the unlikely medium of Japanese snack food boxes into unbelievably intricate sculptures, and right now there’s a killer exhibit of his work at the Ikebukuro PARCO museum.
Mad X-acto skillz, am I right or am I right?
From legendary Japanese swordsmen (who undoubtedly would have been delighted to inhale a bowl of instant noodles after hacking their way through their enemies)…
…to knights in shining whisky armor
…this guy knows how to put anything on a Ritz
He can even make horrid diet bars look appealing (And can we just stop for a moment to admire how he made the face by cutting out sections of the box instead of gluing something on?)
Harukiru brings the graphics on the packages to life by constructing little scenes that look like what might go on behind closed cupboard doors
His animation of familiar logos is delightful
And he didn’t confine himself to using just the outside of the pack – see that shiny drum head? That’s snipped from the wrapper that keeps the koala cookies fresh in the Land Of Crushing Humidity
And look how he put the barcode to work as a piano keyboard!
But Harukiru’s not just a cut and paste man – check out the movement he coaxes out of that stiff cardboard packaging. You can see the influence of the modern school of origami that uses artfully crumpled surfaces to bring nuanced gesture to what used to be strictly a stiff, angular art form
You can see it even better here, in his quintet of dancing Pringles dudes
Up close, even better. There’s a video of him making this one, and I only planned to watch for five seconds, but I was still totally standing there, openmouthed, five minutes later. He’s that good
And how the heckin’ heck did he make THIS from just a styrofoam cup and foil seal?
Last but not least, a shout-out to the curator – the exhibit design is great too. The single items are beautifully lit on pedestals or recessed “windows” without glass, and a few are tucked into life-sized dioramas like this or spotlit in changing colors to throw their shadows against the wall
And if seeing all these snack boxes makes you hungry, you can buy the real thing at the exhibit shop on your way out. Or if you’re a madman, and this inspires you to try making these on your own, there’s a how-to book for sale too!
All the modelmakers on my list are getting this for Xmas
One more thing I really admire about this artist: his work first became famous on Twitter, and he utterly understands that MORE people will come see his work if visitors upload pix and tell others how great the show is, instead of prohibiting photo snapping. Photography is not only encouraged, there’s even a hashtag!This is it: ＃空箱職人はるきる
If you want to follow Harukiru on Twitter, he’s @02ESyRaez4VhR2l
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So glad you like them! I wish my photos could convey the workmanship of these. Between the cakes and these sculptures, this fall’s blog theme is shaping up to be “unexpected amazingly perfectly-crafted things”
I could hardly believe my eyes, watching the guy’s video. I mean, his Super Glue skills alone are a marvel to behold. If it were me making them, my fingers would have been a permanent attachment to all those sculptures
Only In Japan 
Wow, amazing!
So glad you like them! I wish my photos could convey the workmanship of these. Between the cakes and these sculptures, this fall’s blog theme is shaping up to be “unexpected amazingly perfectly-crafted things”
Makes me wish I knew how to make things like this! Inspiring!
Me too! Even with the book, though, I fear mine would look NOTHING like his. lol
I guess our talents lie elsewhere. LOL!
It’s insanely well done!
Sasuga, JAPAN, right? I mean, if attention to detail and making tiny handcrafts were major exports, they’d be the world leader
Beautiful! Thanks.
I thought you might enjoy the obsessive attention to every little detail in these, just like I did!
This is out of control….how can they do this? it’s like Origami on steriods!
I could hardly believe my eyes, watching the guy’s video. I mean, his Super Glue skills alone are a marvel to behold. If it were me making them, my fingers would have been a permanent attachment to all those sculptures
Yeah I know! How he managed to do it without gluing himself I wonder?