The Origami Forum

Hey everyone,

I want to know what "you" think is the most complicated origami fold ever. If you have pictures of it - great. If you don't - just tell me and I'll probably try to find it, lol.

Anyway, I'm just looking for some of the most impressive, complicated, time-consuming, and brilliant origami works of art. I'm sure there are people out there that have put a lot of hard work into their folds. I guess you don't get any award for having the best fold, but you do get braggin' rights

Well, to start, here's an earlier post:
viewtopic.php?t=3008

As for my opinion, Kamiya's models get the most impressive award, with his Ancient Dragon, Bahamut, Wizard, the Phoenixes, and of course, Ryujin. I wouldn't say they are the most complex, but for sure, they are brilliantly designed. I know it might seem predictable that someone would shout out his name but nobody can deny his eye for detail and proportion.

I can't make a decision for Hojyo Takashi's models, but Lucifer is definitely a top choice. Utilizing the color change really makes that model stand out. And God of Thunder, Icarus, and others are also marvelous to look at. Sadly, I haven't folded many of his models, so I couldn't give a say as to how complex they are.

I guess I can't decide on the 'complex' or most 'time-consuming' designs, since I still have a limited knowledge of the origami library you could say. 'Time-consuming', to me, screams out modular or thousand-unit sculptures, but they aren't neccesararily complex. I can't think of the names right now, but some of the gods of tesselation origami also have my respect, because for sure, they are complex, time consuming and brilliant.

Uh...umm....yeah, you could say those are time-consuming! Wow, I didn't even know that was possible with paper. Thanks for the link!

Actually, JeossMayhem, I would disagree about them being "not complex". They are complex as hell, but not all that difficult. I would put something like Miyuki Kawamura's Cosmosphere up there as being one of the most complex and time-consuming things in origami.

(picture from http://www.raviapte.com )

There are three slightly different modules used, and it requires 1890 pieces. Diagrams are in Tanteidan 10th Convention Book. Also, every piece starts off by requiring division into thirds.

I'm speechless

Division into thirds is no big deal
Modulars may contain many facets and be complex in that sense, but in terms of folding difficulty, modulars tend to be fairly simple-it is just the same simple folding sequence over and over and over again. I wouldn't consider the majority of modulars' structure complex either-they are generally simple arrangements of regular polygonal faces.

But how long does something like it take? That has to take at least a day....

Sasuki statue its with crane or many crab in Big crab.

origamimasterjared wrote:Actually, JeossMayhem, I would disagree about them being "not complex". They are complex as hell, but not all that difficult. I would put something like Miyuki Kawamura's Cosmosphere up there as being one of the most complex and time-consuming things in origami.

(picture from http://www.raviapte.com )

There are three slightly different modules used, and it requires 1890 pieces. Diagrams are in Tanteidan 10th Convention Book. Also, every piece starts off by requiring division into thirds.

Haha, I was actually thinking about that model when I first posted, but I couldn't remember the name of it, all I new it stared with 'c' and ended with 'sphere'. 'Chronosphere' kept ringing it but I knew that wasn't it. I meant the actual folding sequence was not complex, but for sure, the assembly is.

Jonnycakes wrote:Division into thirds is no big deal
Modulars may contain many facets and be complex in that sense, but in terms of folding difficulty, modulars tend to be fairly simple-it is just the same simple folding sequence over and over and over again. I wouldn't consider the majority of modulars' structure complex either-they are generally simple arrangements of regular polygonal faces.

There are a couple different units that make up the cosmosphere. They are slightly different lengths, which is essential in creating a round shape.

I love the way some modular models look, but overall, folding the same units so many times becomes more of a chore than anything. Assembling is fun for sure, until you get to that last damn piece that refuses to cooperate with the other flaps and tabs!!!

Hey JeossMayhem,

So you've actually tried to make that thing?

Haha, noooooo. It's featured in the Tanteidan Convention Vol. 10 (designed by Miyuki Kawamura). It says that technically you would need two kinds of modules, but a third is neeed to relieve tension.

Quoting directly from the book:

"So you need
1230 long modules
120 middel Modules
540 short modules
Totaly 1890 modules"

The typos are included for the sake of accuracy

I don't think I'd ever consider folding this. 1) the folding sequence uses approximated folds, which makes me feel like there's no way my modules would be exaclty the same. And 2), 1890?!? You're joking right?!?

Phew...you had me worried there. Lol, has anyone on this "forum" every attemped such a thing?

The "inside split flap" in Robert Lang's recent book is over 20 steps, and it is just one fold, not a model!
(By the way, I highly recommend the book, called Origami Design Secrets. As a newb, it will be ages before I can actually fold any of the patterns in it, but It is a really good read anyhow. His theories are fascinating.)

I would call point splitting more than 1 fold. It is more of a technique really. It is fairly complicated, but it is also incorporated in several folded models. Lang's praying mantis, for example, uses it, as does my own flying demon.

I'd have to put Chris Palmer and Joel Cooper up in the top echelons of the world's "complex origami" creators.

Chris has been doing insanely complex stuff for quite a while now- it's not just that he does it, but that he has a complete command of the techniques involved, so he can create arbitrarily complex pieces to fit any need... that's a real measure of skill, in my opinion. He has precious few complex pieces for display online but there are a few out there that give some hint to his overall ability.

Joel has created a genre for himself- realistic 3D representations of faces made using a complex method of tessellation techniques. This was all created completely from scratch - an entire style of folding unique to him. I find this very impressive. And again, the level of complexity is only based on the kind of time he wants to spend folding- not due to any design constraints! My favorite piece of his is this one, which might be because I bought it and it's on display in my house :)

For normal origami, I'd have to second the Hojyo and Kamiya choices - they're technically and artistically excellent. Joisel's figures are probably better, from an artistic perspective- he's got expression and shaping sorted out better than anyone on the planet.

I suppose you were looking for specific examples, but I'm sure you can google those up yourself.