A small square of paper measuring six by six inches is the starting point for origami, the nearly two-thousand-year-old art of paperfolding. From this modest beginning, the origami master creates objects of fascinating intricacy and beauty, like the famous crane, following the unwritten rule not to use scissors or glue. The craft literally took off as an art form in the nineties, as renowned galleries and museums began collecting origami, gradually elevating it to the status of contemporary sculpture. This richly illustrated volume of full-color plates presents outstanding works by more than fifty masters of origami from sixteen different countries. Contributing authors explore the fascinating diversity and complexity of the art of paperfolding in texts devoted to its history, the use of often exquisite, handmade paper, folding techniques, to the role of origami as a source of inspiration for contemporary designers, architects, and artists, and to its increasing importance in science and medicine. A portrait of the "godfather of origami," Akira Yoshizawa, who recently passed away, completes the book. (German edition available ISBN 3-7757-1627-0) Exhibition schedule: Hangar-7, Salzburg, July 7-September 30, 2005