Tomoko Fuse's Origami Art

Starred review from May 15, 2020
Familiar or not with the works of origami artist Tomoko Fuse, readers will be astonished and intrigued by the pieces gathered in this anthology of her designs. Abstract yet reminiscent of modern shapes and contemporary sculptures, her folded-paper art transcends the medium of kami, the Japanese word for paper. Coauthor Brill, himself an origami practitioner, wisely lets the art speak for itself, only categorizing it into five sections that will help readers understand the differences: knot, tessellations, infinite folds, repetitive folding, lampshades. Fuse (Tomoko Fuse's Origami Boxes, 2018) became fascinated with the art of origami at age seven, during a hospital stay, eventually graduating to produce not only 3D sculptures, but also items for everyday life. Elegant color photographs tell her story, with additional narratives provided in lengthy captions as well as a biography. At book's end, a chapter on methods and instructions attempts to guide readers in the making of Tomoko-style paper folds. A science for artists; an art for scientists. Includes a bibliography.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)