Golden Venture Folding
Golden Venture Folding (also called Chinese Paper Folding or 3D Origami) is a type of modular origami. Here, paper is folded into a simple triangular unit. Hundreds of these units are inserted into one another to create elaborate sculptures. The number of units needed depend on the level of complexity and the size of the model. Typically it would take 250 to 500 units to make a swan or a pineapple.
[Photo: traditional swan by L Surber].
Chinese paper folding was probably invented in China. The art form was popularized in 1993 when a ship called the Golden Venture brought illegal Chinese immigrants into USA. While the Chinese refugees applied for political asylum, they were put in prison. To pass their time, the Chinese prisoners folded and assembled paper models. Some of the models were given as gifts to those who helped their cause. Some models were displayed in a traveling exhibit. In 2006, a movie was made depicting the conditions the illegal immigrants endured.
[Photo: traditional pineapple by A Mak].
Diagrams
There are very few diagrams for these types of models because, given enough units, you can make almost anything! |
