Kirigami

The kirigami (切り紙, of kiru , to cross, and of kami , Paper) is the name Japanese of the art of the cutting of Papier. However, one associates the name kirigami with the art of the Papier cut out and folded, since only the name Kirie represents the art of the cutting of Papier.

History

The origins of the kirigami turn over until in China, where one practiced the art of the Jiezhi . The jiezhi gathers the whole of the techniques of folding and cutting of paper. Thereafter, the jiezhi was spread in the whole world to undergo several changes. Of this art, appeared with the Japan the Origami , the Kumigami , the Chigiri , the kirie , the kirigami , etc

Since the kirigami did not have a very great influence in the world apart from the Japan, there are not many documents on this art of handling of paper. One on the other hand knows, that the former use of the kirigami was done in the religious ceremonies and the temples, mainly Shinto. Thereafter, there no really was evolution, the kirigami always kept its traditional values while following the progress of its relationship nearest, the origami .

Today, the most popular sign for the kirigami is a square flash hung in several Japanese temples.

Its modern popularity is due to its flexibility. One can find the kirigami in simple, more complex or even three-dimensional forms.

The kirigami is widespread universally, even if it does not have a as great recognition as the origami :

  • In charts (they are opened and an image is unfolded);
  • In childish do-it-yourself (for example snowflakes);
  • In cut out and folded paper abstract arts;
  • In arts of Printing works;
  • In some museums (especially with the Japan).

Techniques

For the kirigami there is no specific Technique, on the other hand below are presented examples of materials, types of folds and other techniques used generally for the kirigami .

Papers and Charts

In order to begin a project of the type kirigami , it is first of all necessary to choose the type of Papier or the type of Carte which one wishes to use. It is also necessary to take into account the form, the properties, the weight, the thickness and the Texture of the Papier, because this will be very important for the end result. Among the types of papers and charts, one a:
  • the freehand (paper or white paperboard)
  • paper coloured (to make sure that paper is purely of color, if not the folds show the white of paper)
  • paper recycled (to examine it before buying it, because often this type of paper comprises bumps, wire, etc)
  • the paper of algae (this type of paper is recommended, but it is a little more expensive than the standard)
  • wide paper (this paper contains several fibers of parallel lines which can be distinguished easily with the naked eye)
  • papers: with hand, with vegetable fibers, of rice, style “rocks of the Moon”, cotton, marbled and others… (these papers are very beautiful and have a clearly visible texture, they are easy to handle but more delicate)

The best means to determine paper than one wishes to use is to look at if the fold which one obtains seems perfect or not.

Work tools

Below a list of several tools associated with handling with paper in Kirigami .

  • Scissors and (knives) Exacto

  • Pencil with mine
  • Colored pencils and “markers”
  • Erases (gum to be erased)
  • Compas
  • Règle
  • Plieur of line, “Line Folder”
  • Colle (preferably without vinyl)
  • Ruban gummed
  • Indian ink
  • Pinceaux and paintings
  • Others

Techniques of folds

There exist several techniques of Pli S and various names for those, here are some (see also Origami ):

  • Folds of valley and folds of mountain (also folds concave, convex, folds of chart)

  • Folds of 90 degrees
  • Tunnel effect
  • Folds of 0 degrees (2 folds on the same side)
  • Folds of 0 degrees (2 folds on various sides, also double 90 degrees, style Z)
  • 180 degrees
  • Model notched of 180 degrees (no paper of support)
  • Folds parallel
  • convergent Folds
  • Folds with generations
  • Folds with multilevel
  • Other folds (examples: simple fold, fold of mask, etc)

How to begin

If you already manufactured a snowflake by folding a square and while cutting out some of the pieces, by unfolding it to reveal the result, you made kirigami . If you designed already a chart of festival for one of your friends and it cut out so that an image rebounds towards their face, you made kirigami . In general, any comprising do-it-yourself of the folds and cutting is kirigami .

To begin something from this kind, try various techniques on paper Brouillon. In this way, you are ensured to make less errors later. Then, when you wish to achieve a reason (example, on a Carte), trace with paper Calque or white all the folds and cuttings. You ensure that all the minor folds are consistent with the major fold (normally the medium, example: a Chart). Lastly, there are not more things to say without visual, then go ahead and tests the kirigami !

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

  • Web site by Lar deSouza containing examples
  • Web site which off explains the various uses of paper in Japan
  • Virtual Gallery Origamic Architecture, Web site which contains a beautiful gallery of examples
  • MAQUIHUASI " Manos creativas" , Web site which explains a little the use of Kirigami in the educational mediums
  • The Kirigami Shinji, history in detail of Kirigami

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