Meenakshi Mukerji - Exquisite Modular Origami

Exquisite Modular Origami

Meenakshi Mukerji

Copyright 2011 by Meenakshi Mukerji - all rights reserved worldwide. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without written permission from the author. The designs in this book are intended for personal use only. Any commercial use requires consent from the author. Contact information may be found in www.origamee.net.

Etna Kusudama Maria Sinayskaya

Helica Kusudama Ekaterina Lukasheva

To my family, friends and fans

Acknowledgements

First of all I would like to thank those who contributed to this book. I would like to thank Dennis Walker for granting me permission to publish the diagrams for the Compound of Five Octahedra ( for their continued support and enthusiasm. A final note of thanks goes to everyone in my family as well as my friends over here in the US, in India and around the world for providing me with so much inspiration.

Photo Credits

Unless otherwise mentioned, all design, folding and photos are by the author.

Cover Photos:

Top Row : Flower Star (folding and photo by Ekaterina Lukasheva); Dimpled Model with Curves; Etna Kusudama (design, folding and photo by Maria Sinayskaya).

Middle Row : Corolla; Star Flower (folding and photo by Maria Sinayskaya); Daffodils.

Bottom Row : Pinwheel Dodecahedron; Compound of Five Octahedra; Helica Kusudama

(design, folding and photo by Ekaterina Lukasheva).

Back Cover Photos:

Top Row : Star Flower Variation; Corolla Star (folding and photo by Maria Sinayskaya);

Dimpled Model with Flowers.

Bottom Row : Dimpled Model with Curls and Color Change; Zinnia Star; Vortex

Dodecahedron.

Photo on Title Page:

Alternate Assembly of Zinnia Star (folding and photo by Dennis Walker).

Photos :

Pinwheel and Vortex Dodecahedron Variations.

Photo on :

Super Simple Greater Stellated Dodecahedron.

Photos :

30 and 12 Unit Assemblies of Zinnia.

Photos :

Top Row : 12-unit assemblies of Star Flower and Corolla.

Middle Row : Flower Star Variation and Etna Variation.

Bottom Row : Super Simple Stellated Cuboctahedron; Unbloomed Helica Kusudama (folding and photo by Ekaterina Lukasheva).

Contents

Suggested Websites

About The Author

Preface

This is my fourth book on the subject of modular origami in almost as many years. The warm reception of my previous books, the ever increasing interest in origami around the world, and a flurry of new designs that raided my head, have prompted me to author yet another book. After publishing three full-color origami books I thought of doing an inexpensive grayscale book to make it accessible to a wider range of audience. Origami diagrams in grayscale convey almost as much as those in color. The two sides of paper can be represented by white and gray. The models presented in this book are mostly brand new designs, previously published only in origami periodicals.

Though lot of modular origami designers claim that their models need no glue or avoid the subject altogether, it turns out that a fair number of these models could use some glue even to be handled gently, let alone regular handling. With time I have slowly distanced myself from models requiring glue and folded only those with moderately strong locks. In the same token, my own designs have shifted towards stronger locking for the modules, making glue redundant. Not that there is anything wrong with glue but it is definitely a no-no for origami in its pure form.

The first few pages of the book contain origami basics and other material that must be included in any modular origami book for it to be complete. If you are already familiar with these basics, please feel free to skip ahead. I have provided polyhedron charts for referencing during the model assembly phase. Folding tips, types of paper and other material important to folding origami, particularly modular origami, have been discussed.

I begin with my Super Simple Isosceles Triangle Unit. This unit is so simple that several other people have arrived at the same design independently. Next, I have a Compound of Five Octahedra inspired by Dennis Walker of the UK. There are enhanced Sonobe type models which lock like the Sonobe units but have some extra folds to form patterns (Corolla, Zinnia, Star Flower and variation). The rest of the models in this book can be broadly categorized into blintzed fish base models (Daffodils and Dimpled Models), decorated dodecahedra (Pinwheel, Vortex and variations), and decorated stars (Flower Star, Zinnia Star and Corolla Star). Also included are two models by guests Ekaterina Lukasheva and Maria Sinayskaya, both of Russia. They are prolific designers and it is my privilege to introduce their work Helica and Etna Kusudamas respectively.

The diagrams in this book follow standard origami symbols. The language of origami diagramming is very powerful and can be attributed mostly to origami master Akira Yoshizawa. Although written descriptions are generally provided with the diagrams, they are mostly quite redundant except for certain special circumstances. To keep the diagrams simple and neat I have refrained from showing layers except when necessary. Photographs of all models are presented. Color model photos are on the and grayscale ones are all across the book.

This book is meant for audiences 12 years of age and older, with or without a mathematical background. You will enjoy the book irrespective of your folding level, particularly if you are a modular origami lover. Sometimes the units or modules separately may seem quite mundane, but the assembled finished model is always like a pleasant surprise waiting to be cherished at the end. I hope you find hours of enjoyment and relaxation and are tempted to design your own models.

Cupertino, California, August 2011.

Introduction

The word origami is based on two Japanese words: oru (to fold) and kami (paper). Although this ancient art of paper folding started in Japan and China, origami is now a household word around the world. Most people have probably folded at least a paper boat or an airplane in their lifetime. Origami has evolved immensely in the present times and is much more than a handful of traditional models. Modular origami, origami sculptures, and origami tessellations are but some of the newer forms of the art. The method of designing models has also evolved. While some models are designed the old fashioned way using mostly imagination and by trial and error, others are designed with complex mathematical algorithms using the computer.

Modular origami, as the name implies, involves assembling several, usually identical, modules or units to form one finished model. While an understanding of mathematics is useful in designing these models, it is not crucial for merely following instructions to construct them. I think that even though mathematics may not be ones strong point, one can still construct these models and perhaps the process might impart a deeper appreciation for the mathematical principles involved. Like any multi-stepped task it requires patience, diligence and a bit of practice. It is always a pleasure to see the finished model at the end, the outcome is often greatly different than the individual parts would have initially suggested. Aesthetics and mathematics brilliantly come together in these wonderful modular origami structures to satisfy our many senses.