Tomoko Shioyasu (1972-) creates her tapestries by cutting into large single sheets of paper with utility knives and soldering irons. As she plays with negative spaces her organic patterns begin to emerge. When asked about the content in her work Shioyasu replied, “Simply nature itself, particularly that which has existed over an extended period of time—rocks, trees, water channels, cells. I want to look into the essence and roots of life, making works that focus on these basic forms.”.