Origami In the Pursuit of Perfection by Mabona Origami - Watch the video, it's a stop motion animation with origami. It's beautiful.
The coolest tea bag ever :)
I also really enjoy Brody Neuenschwander's calligraphic qualities. He is a recent inspiration for me as well. The line quality, integrated within the composition is beautiful.
As a growing artist, I realize that there were numerous projects completed in the past that were derived from an interesting concept. What I realize today is that often times these works were mere introductions to the specific idea. One ongoing subject matter that I was drawn to in high school was the art of origami and its cultural significance in Asia. I created several works of art based on the visual aesthetic of origami cranes or turtles, incorporating its geometric interpretations of organic forms in nature.
More recently, I developed a style of gestural drawing that felt so natural to me. It was as if I were “writing” in my own language, similar to the spontaneity of written streams of consciousness. In this process, I identify my marks with various forms of calligraphy, where the line quality expresses just as much as, if not more than, the literal meaning behind the written words.
As a result of these observations, I began my research into origami and calligraphy. Two artists have inspired me to explore these topics in greater depth. First is Julie Mehretu, who is an Ethiopian-born artist who resides in New York. I feel a strong connection to her style of drawing and the way she creates a whole new universe within a single canvas by utilizing truly dynamic compositions on a large scale. She critically examines existing social structures that are potentially and historically detrimental to humanity, yet some of her drawings maintain a delicate quality that mimics calligraphy that evoke feelings of freedom.
The second artist who inspires me is an origami artist named Peter Engel. I stumbled upon his book in the bookstore and was immediately fascinated by his unique passion for origami. Although he is currently an architect, his love for origami’s philosophy and practice is genuine and inspirational. His explanation of how closely related nature and mathematics are has led me to a new level of understanding in the topic of origami.
My work has now begun the process of uniting and exploring the relationship between structure and nature, which many times are found in each other as well as on opposite ends of the perceived spectrum. I intend on reconciling the natural style of drawing with the geometric structure of origami with pen and ink on paper as my medium of choice. Once I begin to gather how the two elements interact, I will then investigate how to push the idea further, producing a coherent body of work that showcases the visual development of the initial relationship.
