Origami
Low Siew Bee
Semester 1
Diploma in Creative Multimedia
3 Dimension Design
Origami Sculpture Origami is the Japanese name for the art of paper folding which comes from the Japanese verb ori, which means to fold, and the noun kami, which means paper. Origami is about bringing out, through folding, the nature of paper which the pieces of paper concealed before folded. A finished origami figure is called a model, the method for folding a model is called a design, and drawn instructions for a model is called a set of diagrams. The only requirement for origami is a piece of paper. Any paper can be used, but standard “origami paper” is thin, strong and holds a crease very well. Other materials such as cardboard and sheet metal have been experimented and folded by some origami artists. The basic technique of origami is folding, and many complex folds have been developed. The valley fold is the simplest fold and closely related to it is the mountain fold.
Bases, starting shapes that may be used to fold many different models, are formed through certain combinations of basic folds. The four most common bases are the kite base, the fish base, the bird base, and the frog base. The names of the bases reveal that many paperfolders enjoy folding models of animals and physical objects. Abstract or mathematical shapes are folded by some paperfolders and others specialize in modular origami.
We know very little about the origin of origami. It was argued that the invention of paper is credited to Ts’ai Lun of China in A.D. 105 and that paper folding is invented soon after. Paper was then introduced to Japan in the late sixth century by Buddhist monks from Korea, and paper folding was brought along with it. The first Japanese origami was used for religious ceremonial purposes only due to the high price of paper (Lang). The designs associated with religion ceremonies remain unchanged over the centuries.
The Ocho and Mecho butterflies referred as “orisue”, which are used to
Semester 1
Diploma in Creative Multimedia
3 Dimension Design
Origami Sculpture Origami is the Japanese name for the art of paper folding which comes from the Japanese verb ori, which means to fold, and the noun kami, which means paper. Origami is about bringing out, through folding, the nature of paper which the pieces of paper concealed before folded. A finished origami figure is called a model, the method for folding a model is called a design, and drawn instructions for a model is called a set of diagrams. The only requirement for origami is a piece of paper. Any paper can be used, but standard “origami paper” is thin, strong and holds a crease very well. Other materials such as cardboard and sheet metal have been experimented and folded by some origami artists. The basic technique of origami is folding, and many complex folds have been developed. The valley fold is the simplest fold and closely related to it is the mountain fold.
Bases, starting shapes that may be used to fold many different models, are formed through certain combinations of basic folds. The four most common bases are the kite base, the fish base, the bird base, and the frog base. The names of the bases reveal that many paperfolders enjoy folding models of animals and physical objects. Abstract or mathematical shapes are folded by some paperfolders and others specialize in modular origami.
We know very little about the origin of origami. It was argued that the invention of paper is credited to Ts’ai Lun of China in A.D. 105 and that paper folding is invented soon after. Paper was then introduced to Japan in the late sixth century by Buddhist monks from Korea, and paper folding was brought along with it. The first Japanese origami was used for religious ceremonial purposes only due to the high price of paper (Lang). The designs associated with religion ceremonies remain unchanged over the centuries.
The Ocho and Mecho butterflies referred as “orisue”, which are used to
Cited: Wu, Joseph. “What is Origami?” Joseph Wu Origami Inc., 14 June 2002. Web. 12 Oct. 2014. <http://www.origami.as/Info/intro.php> Lister, David. “The Origin of Origami.” The Lister List. British Origami Society, 8 Nov. 2003. Web. 12 Oct. 2014. <http://www.britishorigami.info/academic/lister/origins_of_origami.php> Wu, Joseph. “Origami: A Brief History of the Ancient Art of Paperfolding.” Joseph Wu Origami Inc., 15 Jul. 2006. Web. 12 Oct. 2014. <http://www.origami.as/Info/history.php> Hatori Koshiro. “History of Origami” K’s Origami. n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2014. <http://origami.ousaan.com/library/historye.html>