I had a friend ask me what is the Future of Origami? I have seen lots of
changes since I bought my first origami book in 1960 - the models were glued in
the book. By the late 1960's Randlett had published his books and the models
started to get more complicated. In 1972, I bought my first Montroll book (and
his first) - Origami for the Enthusiast. The level of difficulty increased.
I joined "organized" Origami (FOCA) and attended monthly meetings at Lillian
Oppenheimer's. At her meetings the folding level was mostly intermediate - with
a few more advanced models taught occasionally or informally at the back of the
class while we followed along with the class.
Tomoko Fuse broke on to the seen in the late 1980s and modular became big. The
Origami Tantedain formed around then, too. Models be came increasing complex.
Some times I think models should be classified as simple, intermediate, complex
and OMG complex.
Currently on the simple end, there are the tea bag folders and the complex end
there are tessellation folders. Origami now covers a whole spectrum of folding
types: simple, letter folds, animals and beasties, geometric, boxes and
practical origami, dollar folding, A4 folding, snapology, modular,
tessellations, large models and miniature.
I have heard it said that Joisel was looking to simplify origami before he
died. His dragon is a great example of that.
So what are your thoughts about what is the future of Origami?
My answer is more of a smorgasbord under a big tent.
