Almost everybody thinks that folding paper airplanes and paper cranes is but child’s play. This very far from the truth. Today, origami as an art turned a new leaf as modern technology is used to come with patterns never before possible. “Between the Folds” is a documentary that explores the sophisticated world of origami and is showing this Sunday, January 24th at the Katharine Cornell Theatre.
It is a well accepted fact that origami originated in Japan although it is also possible that paper folding was done a lot earlier in China. Paper folding is also seen in the traditions of some European countries such as Spain and Germany.
In the documentary, director Vanessa Gould interviews the most prominent origami artists in the world. These include:
Michael LaFosse
Michael LaFosse has been creating origami fine art from his handmade papers since 1974. With Richard Alexander, he founded the Origamido Studio, located for 12 years in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Both biologists, they specialize in natural history art and have collaborated with other origami designers and fine artists to produce or contribute to major exhibits of origami fine art around the world.
Visit his website at: http://www.origamido.com/
Eric Joisel
Eric Joisel is a Paris based origami artist. You can find his amazing achievements here: http://www.ericjoisel.com/eric_.html
Dr. Tom Hull
Dr. Thomas Hull has a Ph.D. in Mathematics. He specializes in using math for origami. You can find out more about Dr. Hull here: http://mars.wnec.edu/~thull/
Akira Yoshizawa
He was considered to be the grandmaster of origami. He is credited with raising origami from a craft to a living art. According to his own estimation made in 1989, he created more than 50,000 models, of which only a few hundred designs were diagrammed in his 18 books. Yoshizawa acted as an international cultural ambassador for Japan throughout his career. In 1983, Japanese emperor Hirohito named him to the Order of the Rising Sun, one of highest honors that can be given to a Japanese citizen.
Here’s the Wikipedia article about him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira_Yoshizawa
Paul Jackson
In his own words:
“My journey with origami began as a child, and I have been a professional origami artist since 1982.
I divide my time between the free application of traditional paper folding (origami) techniques in the media, design and education, and the creative exposition of these techniques in the context of a Fine Art practice.“
Here’s a link to his website: http://www.origami-artist.com/index.htm
Chris Palmer
According to his online resume:
Studied and developed paper folding techniques of master instructor Shuzo Fujimoto, Sasayama-Cho,
Japan, developed an original portfolio of crease patterns
He studied and developed paper folding techniques of master instructor Shuzo Fujimoto in Sasayama-Cho Japan in 1993 where he developed his original portfolio of crease patterns. His resume can be found here:
http://paperairplaneshq.com/blog/wp-admin/post-new.php
Erik Demaine
If you really want to get technical with origami creation, Mr. Demaine is the guy to go to. Here’s his online resume:
http://erikdemaine.org/cv.pdf
