ORIGAMI enthusiasts from around the world will be celebrating the delicate and creative hobby that has, in recent years, grown in popularity, thanks to videos and diagrams that are widely available on websites such as YouTube and Pinterest.

Followers of the art can fold intricate and beautiful ‘sculptures’, ranging from animals to stars and flowers, from a single piece of paper, without the use of glue, cuts or markings. Origami Day is all about promoting the art of paper folding and showcasing incredible creations.

There is much debate surrounding the origin of the artform as some believe that it originated in China, but globally it is often associated with the Japanese culture.

Origami, which literally means ‘folding paper’, is derived from the Japanese words ‘ori’, meaning ‘folding’, and ‘kami’, meaning ‘paper’.

What’s more, Akira Yoshizawa, known as the Japanese origami grandmaster, developed the first works of original modern origami as well as the diagrams showing others how to fold these sculptures. He is said to have designed  50 000 different kinds of origami.

One of the most popular origami sculptures, the crane, is an international symbol of peace.

Related articles:

Art Givers showcases youngest exhibitor

Passionate artists unite