Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Traveling Exhibitions
folding paper The Infinite
Possibilities of Origami
Two Books, Miri Golan (Israeli), Israel, 2010, paper and handmade books
origami lies in its simplicity, of origami from craft to fine art, and its stunning
modern-day applications in the fields of mathematics,
engineering, design, and the global peace movement. Over
allowing everyone to create 140 works by 45 master folders from 16 countries showcase
the power and potential of contemporary origami. In these
their interpretation of the artists’ hands, paper is a medium for infinite creativity.
“Origami is a
metamorphic art
form.”
—MICHAEL G. LAFOSSE, artist, excerpt from
Between the Folds
Peace Sphere, Linda Tomoko Mihara (Japanese American), USA, 1996, 18 cranes folded from a single Crane Cube, Linda Tomoko Mihara (Japanese American), USA, 2005, 54 cranes folded from a single
sheet of paper, with cuts, no glue sheet of paper, with cuts, no glue
period (1600-1868) and is associated with longevity. Since In the mid-20th century, Akira Yoshizawa (1911-2005), father
the 1950s it has also become identified with the struggle of of modern origami, elevated Japanese paper folding from
Sadako Sasaki, a young girl from Hiroshima who developed craft to art by developing new techniques, such as wet-
leukemia a few years after the atomic bomb was dropped. In folding, that allowed for a sculptural modeling of details.
1955, when Sadako was twelve, she was hospitalized and Yoshizawa also invented a system of numbers and arrows
given only a year to live. Believing that anyone who folded for origami folds which became the standard system of
one thousand cranes would be granted a wish, Sadako notation worldwide. A renowned teacher and author of
folded cranes in hope of recovering from her disease but, numerous books on origami, Yoshizawa inspired artists
sadly, though she was able to fold all one thousand cranes, internationally. Many of the artists included in Folding Paper
she died in October, 1955. A monument erected to her in
were influenced by Yoshizawa and by the sculptural potential
the Hiroshima Peace Park is permanently decorated with
of paper to create new artistic realms. In 1983 Emperor
garlands of colorful cranes folded in her memory by school
Hirohito awarded Yoshizawa the Order of the Rising Sun, a
children from around the world. Today, the origami crane
profound honor and a highly prestigious decoration.
represents peace as well as long life. The exhibition features
one of Sadako’s cranes as well as a garland of peace cranes
made by Jewish, Muslim, and Christian children contributed
by Israeli artist Miri Golan.
Pangolin, Eric Joisel (1956–2010, French), France, 2009, pangolin: one uncut square of paper; support Emperor Scorpion HP, opus 593, Robert J. Lang (American), USA, 2011, one uncut square of Korean hanji paper
and base: paper, wire and paint
Animals and Angels: Representations of Real and Angles and Abstractions: Geometric Forms and
Imagined Realms showcases artists who have expanded Conceptual Constructions illustrates the lines, points
on Yoshizawa’s designs and techniques to fold remarkable and angles that give origami its deep mathematical roots.
representations of the natural and supernatural realms. Eric
Some of the featured artists who are also mathematicians
Joisel and Michael LaFosse have adopted Yoshizawa’s wet-
have folded paper into complex geometric and often
folding technique so skillfully their figures appear chiseled
rather than folded. Vincent Floderer uses unconventional modular pieces at the intersection of breathtaking art
materials such as crumpled napkins to achieve a textural and groundbreaking science. Artists such as Eric Gjerde,
naturalism, while the subtle abstraction of Giang Dinh’s Christine Edison, Joel Cooper, and Linda Mihara have
barely folded figures and Paulo Mulatinho’s delicate crane pushed their creations into the third dimension. When paper,
imbue great spirituality. The complexity of the natural world art, and mathematics meet, the results are truly outstanding.
has inspired some artists to fold increasingly complicated
creatures out of single squares of paper.
Frog, Michael G. LaFosse (American), USA, 2003, handmade paper, abaca fiber and powdered mica Bunny God, Jared Needle (American), USA, 2011, one 16 inch square of sekishu tsuru paper
paper
Group of Penguins, Florence Temko (British/American, 1921–2009), USA, 2008, paper Clitocybe, Vincent Floderer (French), France, 2011, two-ply paper napkins, yellow Indian ink, beeswax
Detail of Six Interlocking Pentagonal Prisms, Daniel Kwan (Chinese American), USA, 2010, 90 rectangles of paper
Organic Abstract, Paul Jackson (British), UK/Israel, 2011, paper, pastel, sealant
Tessallation Mix Technique 0310, Tomoko Fuse (Japanese), Japan, 1995, washi paper Giotto’s Circle, Andrea Russo (Italian), Italy, 2011, paper, glue
Mother and Child, Christine Edison (American), USA, 2009, Wyndstone Marble Paper Splash II, Erik and Martin Demaine (Canadian American), USA, 2011, Zander’s Elephant hide
(Elefantenhaut) paper
The Klein Bottle House designed by McBride Charles Ryan (Australian), Australia, 2008, photo by John Miura-ori Solar Array designed by Koryo Miura (Japanese), Japan, 1995, illustration by T. Mizuno,
Gollings, courtesy of McBride Charles Ryan courtesy of JAXA
Heart Stent Prototype designed by Zhong You (British) and Kaori Kuribayashi-Shigetomi (Japanese), UK Origami Dome Collapsible Tent designed by Bob Gillis (American), USA, 2011, plastic
2003, stainless steel
Specifications
Number of Works
142 works, including photograph murals, videos, books, wall Booking Time
projection, and woodblock print 12 weeks
Organized by Availability
Meher McArthur and International Arts & Artists March 2012 to January 2016
Curator Publication
Meher McArthur, independent and former curator of Folding Paper: The Infinite Possibilities
East Asian Art at Pacific Asia Museum of Origami by Meher McArthur
and Dr. Robert J. Lang
Exhibition Advisor (ISBN: 978-0-9662859-6-3),
Dr. Robert J. Lang March 2011
Requirements Contact
Moderate security, approximately 2,500 square feet Margalit Monroe
Asian Art Specialist & Senior Exhibitions Manager
Fee margalitm@artsandartists.org
$25,000 plus outgoing shipping
Shipping
IA&A makes all arrangements; exhibitors pay outgoing
shipping within the contiguous US
ARTIST BIOS
on the pure form and and cultural backgrounds. Herman Van Goubergen developed abstract and
shadow of the work. Many Her students often create (b.1961, Belgian) geometric structures based
of his works are wet-folded garlands of origami cranes Belgian folder Herman van on curved folds, inspiring
and have the appearance of as a wish or prayer for artists Erik and Martin
Goubergen is a computer
semi-abstract sculptures. His a more peaceful world. Demaine and Jeannine
programmer and has been
website is giangdinh.com. Golan, who is married to Mosely, among others.
creating origami since
English origami artist Paul
he was 14 years old. His
Jackson, also creates
conceptual pieces, such designs are known for their
Tomoko Fuse
as Two Books, in which playful trompe l’oeil quality,
(b.1951, Japanese)
Tomoko Fuse first learned origami figures emerge as they are not always
origami while in the from the pages of two what they first appear to
hospital as a child. She sacred texts, the Torah be. He creates new works
is widely considered and the Koran, and reach infrequently, and each piece
one of the world’s pre- Eric Gjerde out to each other. More is scrupulously based on a
Tom Hull
eminent modular origami (b.1978, Norwegian information about her novel origami concept that (b.1969, American)
artists and has designed educational programs can challenges conventional Tom Hull is an associate
American)
many modular boxes and professor of mathematics
At age five, Eric Gjerde be found at notions of folding. In all his
containers, polyhedra and at Western New
wanted to be “a foldingtogether.org. projects van Goubergen
other geometric objects, England University in
as well as kusudama (balls paperologist,” and growing seeks to create a work
Massachusetts. He is
made by sewing or gluing up, he enjoyed paper that encapsulates and
known as a preeminent
together separate, usually crafts and origami. After demonstrates the authority on the
flower-shaped, units), paper preparing for a technology innovative concept he is mathematics of paper
toys and masks. Since career, Gjerde kept looking exploring. folding. Hull’s own
the early 1980s she has for an artistic outlet to research has developed
published over 60 books balance his creative side some of the mathematical
in Japanese, Korean and foundations of origami,
with his professional life. He
English. and his historical analysis
returned to his childhood Koshiro Hatori
love of paper, and currently has uncovered previously
(b.1961, Japanese) neglected mathematical
focuses on the geometric
Koshiro Hatori is a origami contributions by
art of origami tessellations.
professional translator other scholars. His passion
He teaches, exhibits his for teaching often combines
and origami artist who
works, and has written origami and mathematics,
has made significant
Origami Tessellations: and he regularly teaches
contributions to the David Huffman
Awe-Inspiring Geometric origami math to classes
Designs to introduce academic study of origami. (1925–1999, American) ranging from high school to
Giang Dinh readers to the incredible His research has led to David Huffman was an advanced college seminars.
(b.1966, Vietnamese breakthroughs in the electrical engineer best His book, Project Origami,
beauty and diversity of
American) known for the invention explains how origami can
origami tessellations. His mathematics of origami as
Giang Dinh was born in of the Huffman code, a be used to teach math –
website is well as the history of this
Hue, Vietnam. He studied compression scheme which not just geometry, but also
origamitessellations.com. art form both in Japan and
architecture in Vietnam and enables the consolidation calculus, abstract algebra,
in the United States and the West. His designs range topology, and more. His
and transmission of
currently lives in Virginia, from traditional origami origami works, which are
digital data, used in fax
where he works for an to abstractions, crumpled mostly modular forms,
machines, modems, display the intersection of
architectural firm. He started forms to pleated sculptures. computer networks, and mathematics and art.
creating origami in 1998
His website is high-definition television
and is now well known
origami.ousaan.com. (HDTV). Dr. Huffman was
for his simple and elegant
also a pioneer in developing
designs infused with a zen-
like spirituality. Rather than the mathematics of origami,
Miri Golan (b.1965, Israeli)
crisp, sharp folds, which he including 3D polyhedral
Miri Golan is probably best
compares to ink, he chooses and curved forms. In
known for the educational contrast to traditional
soft folds, which are like
pencil lines. He often works work she does in Israel, origami, which was primarily
in plain white paper so that using origami to unite representational and used
the viewer can concentrate people of different religious straight folds only, Huffman
the two models in this day job as a laser physicist thought-provoking origami
exhibition are examples). to focus on both the art installations, bearing
As of 2008, he has and science of origami. powerful social messages
expanded his focus in the He is now one of the most about environmental
origami world to include respected origami artists destruction and the dangers
tessellations. in the world and uses his of consumerism. He also
background in science and designed origami for the
award-winning Asics
mathematics to design
corporate movie “Origami
complex and lifelike forms Jeannine Mosely Jared Needle
in the Pursuit of Perfection,”
from uncut squares of (b.1953, American) (b. 1987, American)
which is featured in this
paper. Although Lang uses Jeannine Mosely has loved One of the younger artists
exhibition. His website is
mathematics (and even, origami since the age of featured in the exhibition,
mabonaorigami.com.
on occasion, computer five. A graduate of MIT Jared Needle has been
programs) in his work, he with a Ph.D. in electrical folding paper since he
Michael G. LaFosse has developed many design engineering and computer was a child and has
(b. 1957, American) techniques that require science, she has pursued a recently begun exhibiting
Michael G. LaFosse is no more than a pencil his own designs at
career in three-dimensional
internationally regarded and paper. Lang teaches national conventions and
modeling. Best known for
as one of the world’s top classes and workshops exhibitions. Many of his
her Menger sponge, a cube
origami masters. He has on the techniques he works are inspired by the
measuring 1.5 meters (5
been practicing origami for invented, and his book, world of fantasy and the
feet) on one side and made
more than 40 years and Origami Design Secrets, Linda Tomoko Mihara supernatural, in particular
from 66,048 folded business
has been teaching it for is considered one of the (b.1959, Japanese American) the characters featured in
cards, Mosely believes that
over 30 years. LaFosse, seminal references for Linda Tomoko Mihara
folding origami structures anime and video games.
a master paper-maker, origami design. Lang learned origami at the age
and his partner, Richard is a way of giving life to
lectures widely and has of six from her grandfather
Alexander, also create a mathematical theorem
collaborated with other Tokinobu Mihara, author
handmade origami paper, or formula. Her recent
scientists, doctors and of Origami-Japanese
known worldwide under origami work focuses on
engineers to apply his Art of Paper Folding.
the name “Origamido® folding curved lines, both
knowledge of folding Mihara is best known
Paper,” which they use for in modular forms and
to the design of airbag for her work with folded
their own work and is also tessellations.
deployment software, cranes, in particular her
sought after by many other
space telescope optics
origami artists. Together, three-dimensional origami Bernie Peyton
LaFosse and Alexander and medical devices. His
sculptures. She is an expert (b. 1950, American)
have written numerous website is langorigami.com.
in the roko-an technique, Bernie Peyton has a
books on origami. A in which multiple cranes background in wildlife
biologist by training, are folded from a single biology and spent many
LaFosse skillfully uses the years conducting field
sheet of paper. This style
wet-folding technique and research and conservation
was based on a series
his own specially made on endangered species,
of two-dimensional
papers to create dynamic including spectacled
representations of the works illustrated in the Paulo Mulatinho
bears in the Andes. In
natural world. His website 18th century book Hiden (b.1956, Brazilian)
the late 1990s he revived
is origamido.com. Senbazuru Orikata (Secret A native of Brazil, Paulo a childhood interest in
Sipho Mabona Folding Methods for One Mulatinho studied graphic origami and started creating
(b.1980, Swiss/South African) Thousand Cranes). Mihara
and industrial design in his own designs. Many of
Sipho Mabona, of Swiss created her works, Crane
Rio de Janeiro. He has his pieces are sculptural
and South African Cube and Peace Sphere,
been folding origami for in composition, relate to
background, was five
after developing this his work with wildlife, and
years old when he folded over twenty years and has
technique for many years. feature elements made
his first paper airplane. lived in Germany since
Roko-an is demanding from folded paper mounted
Since then, Mabona’s 1985. Paulo Mulatinho is
for both the artist and the on structures to enhance
origami has covered a the founding president of
paper; it took five years to their realism. His website is
Robert J. Lang great range of different
find the right type of paper Origami Germany. He has eco-origami.com.
(b. 1961, American) styles, from very intricate,
to realize the Peace Sphere, written several books about
representational designs
After 30 years of studying a free-standing, round origami in English and
to abstract geometrical
origami as his passion, Dr. shapes. Recently, he sculpture. Her website is German and has exhibited
Robert J. Lang gave up his has created a number of origamihara.com. his works internationally.
exhibitions throughout the (computer numerical Vietnam. He has been the subject. Tubis has also
world. Their joint website is control) manufacturing folding since age four. Tran published seven articles
vs-origami.narod.ru. techniques, Sweeney recently joined a growing on the use of origami in
seeks to maintain an group of Vietnamese mathematics education,
experimental, hands- origami folders and his and served as a consultant
on approach, utilizing work has been featured to the InCreasing Math
the properties of often in several international (origami math) project
of the Dramatic Results
mundane materials, such exhibitions. Fascinated by
Andrea Russo Organization that operates
as paper, to discover dinosaurs, he specializes
(b. 1981, Italian) in the public schools of
unique sculptural forms. His in constructing complex
Andrea Russo has a Long Beach and Compton,
website is skeletons of various types
CA. His works have been
background in law and Heinz Strobl richardsweeney.com. of dinosaurs from multiple
exhibited in the USA,
a passion for art, which (b. 1946, German) sheets of paper.
Japan, Europe, and Israel.
he expresses through his Heinz Strobl is known for his
origami works. Rather development of two types
than rely on traditional of modular origami using
and conventional forms strips of paper. In Knotology,
of origami, he prefers to the strips are knotted into
create tessellations with flat pentagons layered on
geometric patterns and one another, and woven and
abstract sculptures using plaited to make models that,
like his Snapology figures, Nicolas Terry
straight lines or curves, in
are stable without the use of (b. 1974, France) Florence Temko Polly Verity
an attempt to extract new
glue or tape. In Snapology, A psychotherapist with a (1921–2009, American) (b.1971, British)
forms and visual concepts.
which he developed later, background in engineering Florence Temko was born Polly Verity is an artist
He has collaborated with
strips are folded into and molecular chemistry, in the United Kingdom and based in Devon, England.
designers and architects
polygonal prisms (the units Nicolas Terry discovered was a pioneer in spreading She sculpts in a wide range
and has exhibited his
or modules) that are joined origami as a child and in origami throughout both of media and performs as a
work in museums and using a second set of strips 2002 started creating his the UK and the United member of an experimental
private galleries. Russo that snap them together, electronic band called “I,”
own designs, beginning States, where she later
recently participated in creating geometric forms. playing purpose-built and
with a snail. Since then, he lived. A prolific author on
a convention of Islamic He has exhibited his works modified instruments. Her
has designed numerous the subject of origami, she
Art, where he showcased internationally. paper sculptures explore
forms, mostly of animals, was a strong influence on
paper tessellations that patterns and shadows and
given presentations and origami beginners, many of
represented Islamic are complex and varied,
exhibited internationally. whom went on to become
geometric patterns. from organic crumple forms
Terry has published books renowned artists. Several to elaborate tessellations,
featuring his artwork, and of her designs, such as often including curved
has also worked to promote a family of penguins, are folds. Her website is
and publish the works among the most popular polyscene.com.
of other internationally with young folders.
renowned folders. His
Richard Sweeney website is
(b.1984, British) passion-origami.com.
Richard Sweeney studied
Victoria Serova sculpture and three-
(b.1969, Russian) dimensional design in
Victoria Serova is one of the art school. As part of
few female origami folders Sweeney’s work with
to specialize in complex
three-dimensional design,
origami forms such as Arnold Tubis
he manipulated paper by
multi-legged insects and (b.1932, American)
hand to create 3-D design
crustaceans. Her husband, Arnold Tubis taught physics
models, many of which Hieu Tran Trung at Purdue University for 40
Vladimir Serova, is also an
origami artist, and together ultimately developed into (b.1984, Vietnamese) years. Origami has been
they have published several sculptures. Combining Hieu Tran Trung is a an avocation of his since
novels and exhibited hand-craft with computer- chemistry teacher living the early 1960s and he has
their work in books and aided design and CNC in Ho Chi Minh City, co-authored four books on