In a few words

Origami is the art of paperfolding. It is a Japanese word, made from the characters "Ori", meaning folding and "Gami" meaning paper. This form of art is traditional in Japan but was originally born in China, many centuries ago. It used to consist mostly of traditional models that were taught from parents to kids. The origami revolution came during the 1950s, with the work of origami master Akira Yoshizawa. He was the first one to develop a language to teach origami in the form of standardized diagrams. His books contributed greatly to spread origami across the world.

During the 1990s, another small revolution happened with the invention of new techniques to fold more and more complex models. However, origami isn't only about complexity and technique, it is an art form which everyone can learn and enjoy. Every folder can add his personal touch, and many creators have developed new schools of folding or ways to look at origami.