ORIGAMI

Origami, the ancient Japanese art of paper folding has come a long way and today finds its practitioners all
over the world. Origami is simplistic in its approach in that the only medium required is paper. It is
interesting to see a piece of paper turn into a bird, an animal, insect or object; to witness paper take shapes
that range from symbolic to sculptural, from realistic to abstract and from things that exist in nature to things
that dont.
This art is said to have originated in China and then developed further in Japan. ORIGAMI the Japanese
name for the art of paper folding comes from the words oru (to fold) and kami (paper). A finished Origami
figure is called a model. As a rule no glue or scissors are used. The method for folding a model is called a
design and drawing instructions for folding the model is called a set of diagrams
The technique consists of basic folds and bases developed down the years and now given a standard
universal language. One can also term it as a science since principles of mathematics are applied. The art
has advanced to such an extent that now one also hears of modular origami and 3 D Origami where more
than one sheet is used.
Other than the art value, Origami concepts have been used by scientists and designers to pack large
objects into small spaces (lenses in spacecraft telescopes, tents, maps), by car manufacturers to study the
crumple zones for minimizing crash impact and even by architects to study the tensile strength of a
structure.
Origami finds its use even in therapy. Children can improve their creativity, attention span and spatial
visualization by folding a simple origami model every day. The physically challenged have found solace in
origami as have terminally ill patients.

ORIGAMIMITRA
ORIGAMI has a universal appeal. Paper folders are a diverse group of people and their love for the art
brings them together. There is no age bar anyone can enjoy this pastime. Today there are many Origami
groups in nearly all the countries of the world. The groups have members from all occupations students,
housewives, scientists, architects, professors, professionals etc.
One such group here in Mumbai, India, is ORIGAMI-MITRA, founded in 1981 by the late Mrs. Indutai Tilak
and Gita Kantawala. It has grown in stature and members. The goal is to spread awareness of this and
spread the simple joy of Origami to as many people as possible. . Although it is based in Mumbai there are
affiliated members from Pune, Ahmedabad and Nagpur.
To achieve its objectives ORIGAMI-MITRA has been conducting Exhibitions and workshops through the
years in Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur.
Some of the exciting activities have been:

Workshops in rural areas for underprivileged children in and around Maharashtra

Visit by the late blind Origamist Saburo Kase from Japan in 1982 and 2002 to India

Exhibition with a special theme on Dinosaurs at Pune in 2003

Origami Peace Tree Festival 2006 in Mumbai where International folders Tomoko Fuse from Japan ,
David Brill from UK and Tricia Tait from USA were Guests of Honor.

John Montroll another famous Origamist and author too graced our event more than once.

Origami courses held in collaboration with Chatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalaya (originally Prince of
Wales Museum) , Consulate of Japan, Mumbai ,Bombay Paperie, Comet Media, Bal Bhavan, Indo
Japanese Association and other Corporates, Indian Institute of Technology, Victoria Memorial School
for the Blind, Bombay Municipal Corporation.
A regular feature, which the group conducts, is the Annual Camp wherein the members hibernate to a
place away from the city and spend time with each other sharing and teaching various techniques and
models.
Folding Sunday a new activity has been introduced over the last two years and gaining in popularity.

WONDERFOLD
Our annual Exhibitions are termed as WONDERFOLD which are held in Mumbai & Pune. All those who are
members of ORIGAMI-MITRA can participate in this exhibition. Besides displaying models in different
categories like animals, birds, flowers, etc. we also have a display that is put together by the entire group.
We have had a cherry blossom tree and Oriland that was folded and put together by the entire group in
previous exhibitions. This years group project is going to be a dining table where all the items on table from
crockery, cutlery to food will be made of paper.
For WONDERFOLD 2014 we are privileged to have Meenakshi MukerjI (originally from Kolkata but now
settled in the US) as our Guest of Honor. Meenakshi is an electrical engineer and has done her MS in
computer science.
She is a well-known and respected name in the world of Origami and has designed beautiful models and
authored 5 books - each a precious gem. In 2005, Origami USA presented her with the Florence Temko
award for generously sharing her work on her website.
She is also a member of Origami USA and British Origami Society and contributes to various origami
periodicals and conventions.

This write up will not be complete without the mention of the achievements of our Mitras.
Himanshu Agrawal Specialises in Large Origami models and has set 3 world records for the same.
Vishwas Deval - Created Fabulous models especially Masks of famous personalities.
Kamlesh Gandhi Created the famous Ganesh model.

Origami Philosophy
Use no gum and use no cuts, but tuck it in or fold !
Oh! it is a beauty of Origami Art.
It is inexpensive, very creative,
Most innocent, q u i t e scientific.
And therapeutic, makes us purists, brings us peace.
It shows reality in delicacy and simplicity in intricacy.
How curious i t is to a child!
And keeps us child-like t h r o u g h o u t o u r l i v e s .
Try it, become a folder,
Practice i t and become h a p p i e r .
Absorb it and soon, you are a Philosopher.

Kamlesh Gandhi, ORIGAMI-MITRA

So flexible ... so simple ... so humble. We are proud to be ORIGAMISTS and to capture the spirit of origami in
one line, we would just say:

"Look what two hands and a piece of paper can do!

Contact Persons
Kamlesh Gandhi: 23876090 (only between 11 am to 4 pm) kamleshgandhi87@hotmail.com
Padmaja Pradhan: 9969461148 (only between 11 am to 4 pm) pvpradhan@gmail.com