The Art of the Origami: Animals, Motor Skills and Patience

Origami is the art of paper folding; the word comprises two parts, ori meaning folding and kami, which became gami later on, meaning paper. Origami has also long been associated almost exclusively with Japanese culture. Today, no matter the culture of origin, origami has become an umbrella term for all the paper folding art and practice.

The goal of origami is to take a piece of paper, most often a square, and fold it many times in many different ways to end with an intricate design representing an animal, a flower most often. The most well-known origami model, even today, remains the Japanese paper crane.

2 million paper cranes assembled together by Vik Muniz, to raise fund for the Japan earthquake relief in 2011. Photo by Andrew Moore for New York Times Magazine

Paper holds a significant place in Asian culture, Chinese and South Korean practice burning paper on different occasions, from funeral rituals to Lunar New Year, and while some paper folding might have been involved as early as the Song Dynasty (905 – 1125 CE), it is hard to confirm the importance of paper folding into the practice. It is during the Endo period – spending from 1603 to 1867, that the origin of the practice of Traditional Japanese origami can be traced. In European culture, it is napkin folding that comes the closest to origami and started around the 17th century. This is the first encounter with something similar to origami.

The folding of two origami cranes linked together, from the first known book on origami, Hiden senbazuru orikata, published in Japan in 1797

Today many types of origami exist. Paper is still very central to its practice. Today, it is easy to purchase a pre-packaged, pre-cut bundle of colourful sheets, with different colours on each side, patterns, and of different paperweights. Other than paper and of course a flat surface, some will recommend using a bone folder, rulers and scissors. Origami remains an art that is requiring minimal materials but a lot of patience!

Among the origami types popular today, one can find the classic type, then the action origami that requires an action, for example, to blow into the shape formed by the folding to create the final results. Modula origami brings several identical pieces together to form the final artwork. This is often used to create more decorative pieces and might require glue or thread to assemble the final product. Strip folding involves weaving and origami traditional folding – Lucky Star is one of the most common patterns that use that technique. Another one type or technique is Wet folding used to give more fluidity to the folds as they dry. Finally, Origami tessellation has been growing in popularity since 2000 and is one of the most use origami form seen today. It consists of assembling plan pieces of paper together with no gaps.

Example of Wet Folding technique

The principles of origami are no longer only restricted to paper and art. Fashion has been dabbling and showcasing its principle many times, but so are stents, packaging and engineering applications and industries! We can only see how this will continue to evolve through the next century, and technological advancements, or maybe will it remain true to its origin and remain a low-fi art. In the meantime, get a piece of paper (or a dollar bill!), find a pattern to replicate and armed yourself with patience and concentration and create your new desk decoration, Christmas tree ornament, or next artwork!

Origami, from fashion to architecture to arts! The limits are only in the creative’s mind.

Enough history (not that it isn’t interesting – but you need something to do with your ten fingers…). We know that you are eager to go fold pieces of colourful paper into magnificent creation too! Here are some adopters to guide you and to inspire you to unleash your magical paper folding powers!

Artwarming by Anunay Thakur

Artwarming is the creation of software engineer Anunay Thakur. It is where he shows is passions and loves for art! From opinions to information pieces to DIY tutorials you will discover many things by strolling Thakur website! One of his blogs features title Origami: Between The Folds is perfect for this article. As Anunay mentioned in that post, origami is not aged bound, so get a piece of paper, open one of his tutorials and fold away.

His origami creations and his love for art can be appreciated on Instagram under the handle @artwarming.art or his .art website www.artwarming.art

Orig.Ami Project by NEA

Orig.Ami by artist NEA was an ephemeral installation in Venice during the Venice Biennale 2013, the 55th International Art Exhibition. This project is noteworthy as it is visually stunning, poetic and very thoughtful! When they walked on the bridge, the passerby’s were invited to take one of the origami flowers and freeing one of their thoughts. By putting the flower into the canal, they let it flow, let it go – a metaphor for what would happen with the thought they have been freeing themselves from! The flower would eventually disintegrate and cease to exist.

Look into her artistic universe and discover more about this mesmerising project by strolling through her website nea.art or by glancing at her on Instagram @nea.artist

PLEGO

Paper scissor Folding – could this replace the rock paper scissor? .ART Adopter would love that very much! PLEGO creates paper depictions of nature and organic forms such as crab, owl and many other birds! You can get a customed order or select one of their ready to go kits – they even have videos to walk you through the steps! Their website is colourful and inviting – so if you aren’t ready to adopt an animal, but could do with a paper one – PLEGO should be where you look!

You can discover more about PLEGO on their website at plego.art or by looking at their work on Instagram under @plegopaper

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