Most origami designs are singular creations: the designer lays out a distinct sequence of steps that lead directly to the finished product. Peter Engel’s system for designing over 10,000 different bird species, inspired by Darwin’s theory of natural selection and employing random processes to replicate the role of genetic variation, produces not one but multitudes of different models by varying the sizes, shapes and colors of the birds’ bodies, heads, beaks, wings, and tails. It’s a new direction for an origami artist who for over 50 years has exerted extreme control over the outcome of his design process. In this slide presentation, Peter will explore the philosophical and aesthetic underpinnings of his design system and show how he constructed the first, room-sized installation of his birds for a San Francisco tech company.
No supplies needed