PAPER TRANSFORMED: ORIGAMI

The Art of Paper Folding

Feb 20, 2007 - Mar 2, 2008

Curator: V'Ann Cornelius
Collection Source: Mingei International Museum

For almost 1900 years masters taught their students the techniques and designs of origami by demonstrating the same models they had learned. At the beginning of the 20th century, only some 150 origami models existed. Today, thanks to several inventive and generous artists, there are thousands of models being folded worldwide. PAPER TRANSFORMED: ORIGAMI honored one of these generous artists, acclaimed local paper folder, author and teacher Florence Temko. Her extensive collection of books and articles about paper, paper folding and origami objects are in the Museum's Frances Hamilton White Art Reference Library. Nearly 100 examples of traditional and contemporary paper folding were on view, curated by V'Ann Cornelius, Museum staff member and Vice-president of OrigamiUSA.

Two videos played in the Museum throughout the exhibition:
Origami Masterworks, a documentary featuring the 2003 Mingei International origami exhibition
On Origami, featuring world-renowned origami masters

Read more: Paper Transformed (pdf)  "San Diego exhibit contains some striking origami imagery"  (from the PAPER, Issue 96)