November 19, 2013 at 1:06 pm

A Single Thread Wrapped Around Thousands of Nails

by twistedsifter

 

Kumi Yamashita, whose mind-blowing shadow artworks have been featured before, uses a single, unbroken thread wrapped around thousands of nails to create stunning portraits of women and men.

In the ongoing series entitled Constellation (a nod to the Greek tradition of tracing mythical figures in the sky), the Japanese artist (living and working in New York) uses three simple materials to produce these otherworldly works of art.

Mana, the first artwork featured below, was recently selected as one of 50 finalists for the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, a triennial event being held at the Smithsonian Museum’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Yamashita’s artwork was selected from over 3,000 entires and is on display at the National Portrait Gallery until February 23, 2014.

For more, be sure to visit Kumi’s official website and Facebook page.

 

1. Mana, 2011
40h x 30w cm
Wood panel, brads, single sewing thread

portraits made from single thread wrapped around nails kumi yamashita (1)

Artwork by KUMI YAMASHITA
Website | Faebook

 

portraits made from single thread wrapped around nails kumi yamashita (11)

Artwork by KUMI YAMASHITA
Website | Faebook

 

portraits made from single thread wrapped around nails kumi yamashita (10)

Artwork by KUMI YAMASHITA
Website | Faebook

 

2. Sachi, 2013
46h x 33w cm
Wood panel, brads, single sewing thread

portraits made from single thread wrapped around nails kumi yamashita (2)

Artwork by KUMI YAMASHITA
Website | Faebook

 

portraits made from single thread wrapped around nails kumi yamashita (4)

Artwork by KUMI YAMASHITA
Website | Faebook

 

3. Cy, 2011
46h x 36w cm
Wood panel, brads, single sewing thread

portraits made from single thread wrapped around nails kumi yamashita (6)

Artwork by KUMI YAMASHITA
Website | Faebook

 

portraits made from single thread wrapped around nails kumi yamashita (7)

Artwork by KUMI YAMASHITA
Website | Faebook

 

4. Erik, 2007
46h x 36w cm
Wood panel, brads, single sewing thread

portraits made from single thread wrapped around nails kumi yamashita (8)

Artwork by KUMI YAMASHITA
Website | Faebook

 

5. Mana no. 2, 2013
39h x 30.5w cm
Wood panel, brads, single sewing thread

portraits made from single thread wrapped around nails kumi yamashita (3)

Artwork by KUMI YAMASHITA
Website | Faebook

 

 

 

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shadow art silhouette art kumi yamashita 4 A Single Thread Wrapped Around Thousands of Nails