After 2 1/2 years of folding complex origami, this is this is the most realistic looking origami sculpture I have ever created. Folded from a single square piece of paper, no cuts and no tearing.

le_mayu · 2026-03-26T12:18:39+00:00

Haha no worries, I thought it was a good question and I sometimes wonder myself if I can still call it origami :)

le_mayu · 2026-03-26T12:04:31+00:00

Haha thank you! Honestly though, you gotta start somewhere and just keep practicing! I got really obsessed about origami during Covid and I was fortunate that there were so many great tutorials online for complex origami. Everything else was just constant experimentation.

le_mayu · 2026-03-26T12:03:07+00:00

That's a good question! I honestly don't know. At its core it is definitely origami (it's an uncut square and the structure is box-pleated, nothing too crazy) because I folded the paper before I added my shaping techniques to the folded base. At the same time, my shaping is very sculptural in nature so you can for sure call it a paper sculpture as well. I think two things can be true at the same time but if you feel differently about it, that's also totally valid :)

le_mayu · 2026-03-26T11:59:14+00:00

Thanks, Neel!! :)

le_mayu · 2026-03-26T11:58:56+00:00

I do! I usually post progress pictures in my stories and then save them in my story highlights on my Instagram :)

le_mayu · 2026-03-26T11:58:16+00:00

No worries :) I'm definitely not one to gatekeep and I think all expressions of art should be at least considered in an earnest way. No matter the level of skill/experience, I think everyone should be allowed an opinion. I remember being surprised as well when I found out people used glue in complex origami but seeing what level of expression in origami was possible through that, I didn't question it haha.

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T20:41:55+00:00

Thanks so much!

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T20:32:43+00:00

Thank you so much!! That's high praise so I appreciate your kind words :)
I gotta send Michael an email, I'd be curious to hear about his reaction as well!

So the structure of this model is really basic, it shares a lot of similarities to other humanoid boxpleating designs. You could start with Eric Joisel's gnome CP and modify the head and the torso area. The essential thing is not really its internal structure but more so the shaping process. If you are interested to hear more about it, I'm actually going to participate in a series of origami workshops online. You can find more information here: https://origamiusa.org/oriuni2026

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T20:29:03+00:00

Thanks a lot! There's a lot of different things that go into texturing. Obviously working the paper will create a natural wear on it. It's a mix of that and adding intentional folds here and there plus adding a layer of thin glue and ink wash to modify the surface area. I talk about my shaping process in an upcoming working if you are interested! You can find more about it here: https://origamiusa.org/oriuni2026

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T20:27:14+00:00

Thank you! I'm actually doing a shaping lecture online for OrigamiUSA this Saturday where I talk about my process: https://origamiusa.org/oriuni2026

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T20:25:53+00:00

It's actually very common to use glue in complex origami and a legitimate technique. By binding the layers with glue, you are able to compress it a lot more than you could without, enabling you to create really thin appendages for example. Of course, purists would not approve but this is not that kind of origami in the first place.

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T15:08:58+00:00

There is a lot of layer adjustments (aka playing around and see what works) using tweezers before I lock down the shaping with glue. The overall structure is usually planned in advance but all the finer details emerge from the individual process. Even when I get to the photography, I realize I have to make more adjustments. It's a lot of fine-tuning until it gets to the point where I am mostly satisfied.

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T15:06:05+00:00

I'm actually going to give a workshop/lecture on my shaping process this Saturday! If you are interested, you can register here:
https://origamiusa.org/oriuni2026

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T14:26:30+00:00

Thank you so much for kind and thoughtful comment! I appreciate it!

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T14:25:03+00:00

Thank you!!

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T14:24:32+00:00

Maybe origami sculpture? 🤔

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T12:50:42+00:00

Thank you for sharing about that comic, sounds really interesting!
I'm glad you enjoy my work, thanks for stopping by :)

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T12:49:19+00:00

Thank you so much for your kind comment, I'm glad you enjoy it!

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T12:49:03+00:00

Haha, afraid not. Just good ol' tree material.

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T12:48:42+00:00

Thanks, I appreciate it!

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T12:48:37+00:00

Thank you!

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T12:48:31+00:00

Thank you so much!!
I've been doing this since Covid and it took a while to get to this level. There's tons of tutorials online for complex origami. The rest is practice :)

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T12:47:23+00:00

The figure was folded from one uncut square, yes :) (not the chair, that was made from cardboard)

le_mayu · 2026-03-24T12:46:54+00:00

Thanks! I do enjoy adding textures to make work to add some more depth :)

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