Origami

Getting something similar to: Origami is the art of paper crafts, the most people will think about this when they hear the keywords paper, handicrafts and Japan. Unlike Pepakura, Origami is very old, and very precisely analysed that some experts are at loggerheads about the development of the Origami art. There is a huge Origami fan base worldwide and Origami has a history with mystic roots, also Origami has a religious importance, sometimes people speak about Origami more significantly than the infidel is ready to accept.

Origami-Basis

The esprit of Origami and the basic reason for that is Origami will always remain as the supreme discipline of the paper arts, the restriction on a square sheet of paper and dexterity. Of course there are Origami lovers who extend the basis to one or other technology development, for example, by using a pair of scissors, rectangular paper, or colors or special folding techniques, in which water application is required. In principle Origami is not more than a square paper, the knowledge of geometric possibilities and the dexterity of the Origami craftsman. The real Origami expert will probably shake his head now as finally the three basic folding forms namely frog, bird and fish which are the basis for many other characters should also be mentioned here. Those who work with a pair of scissors for the Origami folding make use of the Kirikomi technique. It has everything in order...

Origami – one paper is not enough

... and then on the other hand it is not. Origami may consist of many individual pledges which fit together. As like all traditions which are adopted by the entire mankind someday there are also unlimited options for creativity, complexity for the implementation and diversity. From the religious significant classical range, over the slightly esoteric-looking flower packaging and the artful Origami box, to the complex and detailed workout of brontosaur skeleton fairly possible with Origami. Nevertheless it should be mentioned that in comparison to Origami, Pepakura has some obvious advantages such as the using of digital 3D models, printer, cut-out-sheets, scissors and paste for the detailed implementation of 3D models into paper.

Origami history

Origami is old, but we are not sure how old exactly it is. There are people who believe the roots, where the paper comes from or even further back - Origami, the folding and crimping as a kind of basic instinct which we experience every time after buying the bus ticket. The word Origami however, has Japanese roots (Kami means paper) and also the mysticism which is related to the Origami tradition, is of the Japanese origin. There is an evidence of an early Origami model (art is perishable) in a Japanese poem from the late 17th century. What again is proved by that? At this time Origami already existed and the readers of poems know the word Origami. Artfully folded paper packages or ceremonially folded paper figures are already available at this time and those who declare authoritative are confident that at the end of the 17th century Origami is already several hundred years old.

Origami in europe

Origami, as the name clearly indicates, is a Japanese tradition, but wherever great cultural achievements occur, ineffable debates arise regarding alleged truths, origin and creator. For example there are debates about gunpowder, clocks, paper, book printing, enlightenment, Paella, Ricola, America’s discovery and Tortellini, debates soaked with narrow-mindedness and lighted by the lack of generosity and sovereignty. Due to the reason that people in Europe have fun in Origami folding, experts tried to find out whether there might be a background of European tradition and self-evidently they found unverified answers. A plausible, if not always effective or even to find a peacemaking position in such a debates is usually the Silk Road Group, which is also not missing here - somewhat similar to the definitive answer to the question, whoever had now started with the artful folding of cloth napkins and the rhetorical question, who should have developed it, if not the Europeans who use the folded table napkin as an expression for essential table manners.

Origami is good

We don’t want to deny the Spaniards their Pajarita tradition, a very old paper folding tradition ... Pajarita mostly does not get any attention which may be because of paper flying and comparatively simple animal figures are not able to keep up with the phenomenal variety of modern Origami. In Japan, another old story, the folding of Origami-Cranes is attributed to have a curing effect, patients were supposed to fold their way against the death. Here not only amateur craftsmen (this is a separate field) but also teachers use Origami to train the dexterity and basic geometrical knowledge of their students. A typical German Origami adoption: It is frowned to give away money; however most people understand that money is the only honest, reasonable and useful gift. The solution: Origami money framed in form of landscape paintings.

Origami diversity

Originally the Origami world is reduced on a small number of folding methods and models, but from the 20th century the multitude possibilities, techniques and figures are exploded. Origami had originated its own legends; some important ones are for example Akira Yoshizawa and Samuel Randlett who developed the Origami crafting instructions which are the basis for more and more complex Origami models. Also, the globalisation of Origami has more to do with present Origami-diversity, the Origami models, Origami boxes, Origami animals and Origami decoration, today even mathematicians deal professionally with Origami formulae.