Italian Sushi chef recreates NBA players and their shoes

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A post shared by Yujia Hu (@theonigiriart) on Apr 5, 2017 at 3:05pm PDT

May 12 (UPI) -- A sushi chef and artist in Italy uses raw fish and rice to recreate the likeness of NBA players and their sneakers.

Yujia Hu, a Chinese sushi chef based in Milan uses rice, seaweed and raw fish to recreate iconic Air Jordan sneakers and the likenesses of current and former NBA players including Michael Jordan, Paul Pierce and James Harden on his Instagram page theonigiriart.

Hu attended art school, but left to work as the sushi chef in his parents' restaurant and began creating the sushi-based art as a creative outlet.

"Driven by the urge to express his creativity, he started to experiment, applying components and techniques from his work," his website states. "His passion for basketball led him to start creating onigiri portraits of NBA superstars."

His art also includes other types of sneakers and pop culture figures including former U.S. President Barack Obama and Kanye West inside one of his Yeezy sneakers.

"Kanye West on Yeezy " @kanyewest @yeezyboosts @yeezymafia @adidasoriginals @adidasita @hypebeast @highsnobiety #theonigiriart #sakanasushimilano #sneakers #sneakerart #onigiri #art #artwork #kanyewest #yeezyboost350

A post shared by Yujia Hu (@theonigiriart) on May 4, 2017 at 3:26am PDT