Kirigami

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Kirigami is a variation of origami where the artist is allowed to make small cuts in the paper (from Japanese "kiru" = to cut, "gami" = paper). This enables the artist to enhance the visual presentation of the artwork, at the expense of simplicity. In origami, papercutting is frowned upon by the majority of modern folders, as techniques have advanced enough to make cutting unnecessary for a skilled folder.

Kirigami is sometimes made when certain folds are made in the paper to make a base, or the model without the cuts in it. Then, cuts are made in the base. When all the cuts are made, the base is opened out and flattened to make the finished kirigami. Usually symmetrical objects are made, such as snowflakes, pentagrams, or orchid blossoms.

The term Mon-Kiri is the Japanese art of paper cutting.

[edit] External links

• Kirigami artists both living and historical
• Guild of American Papercutters
• Kirigami videos
• Kirigami in Spanish-Videos