ORIGAMI

The word Origami (折り紙) comes from the Japanese oru (to fold) and kami (paper). The goal is to make objects out of one or more sheets of paper, without any additional tools like glue or scissors.

Lately, the art of origami has spread widely, and has caught the attention of young people and adults because it is an interesting and useful art that develops the skills. Origami is simply the art of folding paper to make shapes of different sizes and colors. Origami only uses flat white or colored sheets without the need of scissors or glue; it just uses simple tools for folding or flattening paper. The Japanese used origami for the first time in 700 CE following the invention of paper. Some historians believe that the Chinese were the first to use it; however, origami flourished in Japan.

The origami uses several folding techniques, which could be basic as the Mountain Fold and the Valley Fold, intermediate as the Rabbit Ear Fold and the Petal Fold, or more complex as the Unsink and the Closed Unsink. Several techniques could be merged for making multiple and unique forms.

Applications of Origami

Origami is an ancient art, and for the longest time, it was mostly a recreational pursuit, without real-life applications. However, it turns out that techniques developed for Origami can be incredibly useful in technology and engineering:

Architecture and Civil Engineering: Origami is used in the manufacturing of miniature models of bridges and stadiums.

Medicine: Paper folding techniques are used to embody the cell membrane and protein, and are used in modeling DNA samples.

Mechanical Engineering: Origami techniques were used in the pipes of the Japanese high speed trains. In-pipe supports were used to absorb the excess pressure; thus, reducing the risk of accidents.

Mathematics: Some teachers currently use origami as an educational tool that helps in clarifying geometry, explaining fractions, and solving problems.

KRIGAMI

The History of Kirigami

Like origami, kirigami has roots in China, where paper was invented around 105 CE. In the 6th century, the Chinese began using colored paper to create decorative cut-outs—a practice known as jiǎnzhǐ. Initially, these paper creations were intended to honor gods and ancestors. However, in the 14th century, jiǎnzhǐ evolved into an activity practiced by women and children for leisure.