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MONTHLY NEWS May 1997 Young Origami Wizard Creates Original Patterns |
One of Japan's youngest masters of origami, or the art of folding paper, is a first grader who lives in Nara Prefecture. Just seven years old, Yukiro Murai held an exhibition of his works in March this year.
Yukiro started making origami when he was only two years old, when his grandmother taught him how to fold paper into different shapes. In the beginning, he simply squeezed paper into balls and tossed them around. But soon he started creating objects that looked like animals and birds. He has since created about 200 original works. Some of his most interesting pieces are "10 Cranes Skipping Rope," made with folding just a single sheet of paper, "Crane Lantern," insects like the butterfly and praying mantis, and small, handy containers for special occasions. |
He makes origami according to his own whims, without consulting guide books. And because Yukiro doesn't always remember how he made the objects, his grandmother comes over to his side every time he starts playing with paper to keep a record of the folding patterns.
"I was really happy that so many people liked my show," Yukiro said. "But when they asked me how I made them, I told them it's more fun to come up your own designs instead of copying them from others."
Photos: (Top) Yukiro shows his grandmother a new design. (above) Some of Yukiro's works. (Asahi Shogakusei Shimbun) 
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