Origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, may actually have originated in China. Papermaking developed in China and some of the oldest examples of folded paper models come from there.
However, Japan adopted origami, and in most people’s minds, the art is distinctly Japanese. In its traditional form, a square sheet of paper is formed into an infinite variety of shapes, using a small number of different folds. Cutting and pasting is not part of the traditional practice.
Besides China, other countries have also adopted paper folding. In Spain and France, beginning in the 16th century, documents, probably baptismal certificates, were folded into the shape of little birds, known as “Pajarita” in Spain and “Cocotte” in France.
Origami designs can be simple hats or airplanes, or they can be complex structures like animals or buildings, which can take a long time to fold. Sometimes the more complex shapes are made from foil instead of paper, since foil can be folded more times and creates less bulk.
Standard origami paper is usually a 6-inch (15-cm) square. Standard folds are used to create bases, the most common are kite, fish, bird and frog.
Once the base is formed, other folds are added to create almost any shape.
One of the most famous Japanese origami shapes is the crane. The Japanese consider the crane auspicious. Legend has it that anyone who makes a thousand paper cranes will have his heart’s desire fulfilled. Since then, the origami crane has become a symbol of peace in Japan.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Joseph Albers began creating spiral and curved shapes in his origami works. Akira Yoshizawa later inspired the modern revival of art by using even more intricate designs and introducing new techniques such as wet folding, so that origami paper better holds its shape.
To showcase the versatility and originality that origami can have, every year for the past 30 years, the American Museum of Natural History in New York has erected a uniquely decorated Christmas tree with many different forms of origami, such as crabs, lobsters, birds , turtles. and dinosaurs. It’s really amazing to hold!
There are many origami books available for beginners and those with more skill. One of the best is “The Complete Book of Origami: Step-by-Step Instructions in Over 1,000 Diagrams with 37 Original Models” by Robert Lang.
The first part of this book is an excellent introduction to the basic skills needed to make origami. Each model is designed to allow you to practice a skill multiple times. This book is a well-known source of origami instructions.
You can also purchase complete kits with illustrated instructions and the materials you need to get started.
It is truly amazing what can be created from a simple sheet of paper. All but the youngest children can make these miniature works of art. It is a craft worth exploring.
