From the Artist: "I grew up in Japan immersed in their rich tradition of folk art, respect for natural forms, and appreciating the essential beauty of simple things. Paper is really just another extension of wood, and I love the precise geometry of modular origami and the complex polyhedra made from multiple folded "units" woven together... but what can you do with them? Cat toys? Fragile dust magnets? I enjoy the satisfaction of making something that is both beautiful and has a function - like a carved wooden spoon that feels good in the hand and takes on a patina over the years of washing and oiling. The combination of durable water-based glue and multiple layers of shoji paper makes remarkably sturdy and light structures that are translucent, and this was the bridge to finding a functional expression of modular origami forms.
Not unlike ceramics, there's always some mystery and unpredictability making these lanterns. The paper sags and stretches when it gets wet, and the colors added to the viscous glue solution totally change shade as it dries. It's like Christmas having to wait overnight before breaking the finished shade off its form and shining light through it for the first time. Making functional interior lighting from folded paper forms and wood is my ultimate creative expression. I hope you enjoy the energy in these lamps and experience their light.
Here's a video link showing the durability of the luminaries: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NJJU7ZRmys. You can also visit this artists shop by clicking on the post title above.
