What "isn't" origami? -- Then versus Now
Posted: June 15th, 2021, 1:34 am
Today I saw a question in another forum from a beginner asking 'What isn't allowed in origami?' and there were a lot of great responses about all kinds of dividing features in models that tend to split opinions on whether it is "pure" origami or not, or even what "pure" origami is supposed to mean. The usual breakdowns:
* Squares versus triangles, rectangles, silver rectangles, other polygons
* Single sheet versus multiple sheet
* Straight folds versus curved folds
* Use of glue/sizing or not
* Use of cutting or not (and at what point)
* Painting
* Taping
I'll be honest there are a few things in that list that I personally do not like in my own models. But I have also broken almost every single "rule" at some point or another. I wonder what other people think, these days, about what origami "is" or is "supposed to be". And the original post caused me to remember a past interpretation that I read and laughed over in the past, which I wanted to share with you all today as a perspective into how it was historically viewed by some people, and how much has changed! This particular passage is by Isao Honda, taken as a snippet from the Preface of his book All About Origami from 1960. Basically, Honda is speaking negatively/talking trash in these paragraphs, taking time in his book to specifically insult Akira Yoshizawa. The hate is remarkable:
"... Take a look at a popular Origami, the Crane. Restricted to only four corners and straight lines, it is not possible to make a perfectly formed natural crane. However even being restricted in this manner, we can create a modern geometric type of beauty that is related to the real bird. There is at present a form of Origami in which straight lines are forgotten and the performer twists and bends his paper to make the desired forms. To my thinking this is not true Origami but a counterfeit art. It is in fact merely a form of paper-mache.
Japanese are noted for being skillful with their fingers. From ancient times the ability of making wheat gluten and flour has been passed down. These however are only individual skills in themselves and, as I have said before, have no contemporary significance. Any child by simply following instructions can realize the pleasure and entertainment that comes with doing real Origami, but by these other abortive methods this basic quality of Origami is completely lost."
Wow.
Performer. Twists and bends. Counterfeit art. Paper-mache. No contemporary significance. Abortive methods (ouch).
Obviously Honda had a different perspective about what origami was compared to Yoshizawa. But nowadays, Yoshizawa's work is largely accepted as more-or-less pure origami and many folders openly embrace wet-folding by methylcellulose or carboxymethylcellulose (in Yoshizawa's day, as Honda calls out, it was basically wheat paste).
My questions for you all: Should we even be talking about "pure" origami? Should we even perceive origami as "pure" or not-"pure"? Do you yourselves still have feelings about what is-and-isn't (I personally strongly dislike tape, heh)? How would you explain to a beginner what origami is? Just an open ended question, I would love to see where this discussion could go. And I hope everyone enjoys the little Isao Honda quote as much as I did when I first stumbled across it! Cheers.
* Squares versus triangles, rectangles, silver rectangles, other polygons
* Single sheet versus multiple sheet
* Straight folds versus curved folds
* Use of glue/sizing or not
* Use of cutting or not (and at what point)
* Painting
* Taping
I'll be honest there are a few things in that list that I personally do not like in my own models. But I have also broken almost every single "rule" at some point or another. I wonder what other people think, these days, about what origami "is" or is "supposed to be". And the original post caused me to remember a past interpretation that I read and laughed over in the past, which I wanted to share with you all today as a perspective into how it was historically viewed by some people, and how much has changed! This particular passage is by Isao Honda, taken as a snippet from the Preface of his book All About Origami from 1960. Basically, Honda is speaking negatively/talking trash in these paragraphs, taking time in his book to specifically insult Akira Yoshizawa. The hate is remarkable:
"... Take a look at a popular Origami, the Crane. Restricted to only four corners and straight lines, it is not possible to make a perfectly formed natural crane. However even being restricted in this manner, we can create a modern geometric type of beauty that is related to the real bird. There is at present a form of Origami in which straight lines are forgotten and the performer twists and bends his paper to make the desired forms. To my thinking this is not true Origami but a counterfeit art. It is in fact merely a form of paper-mache.
Japanese are noted for being skillful with their fingers. From ancient times the ability of making wheat gluten and flour has been passed down. These however are only individual skills in themselves and, as I have said before, have no contemporary significance. Any child by simply following instructions can realize the pleasure and entertainment that comes with doing real Origami, but by these other abortive methods this basic quality of Origami is completely lost."
Wow.
Performer. Twists and bends. Counterfeit art. Paper-mache. No contemporary significance. Abortive methods (ouch).
Obviously Honda had a different perspective about what origami was compared to Yoshizawa. But nowadays, Yoshizawa's work is largely accepted as more-or-less pure origami and many folders openly embrace wet-folding by methylcellulose or carboxymethylcellulose (in Yoshizawa's day, as Honda calls out, it was basically wheat paste).
My questions for you all: Should we even be talking about "pure" origami? Should we even perceive origami as "pure" or not-"pure"? Do you yourselves still have feelings about what is-and-isn't (I personally strongly dislike tape, heh)? How would you explain to a beginner what origami is? Just an open ended question, I would love to see where this discussion could go. And I hope everyone enjoys the little Isao Honda quote as much as I did when I first stumbled across it! Cheers.