People are often loathe to part with their books, even after they’ve finished reading them. Thick, hardbound editions in particular have a sense of presence that entices literature lovers to hang on to them.
Sure, maybe you’re never going to go back and leaf through that heavy tome again, but doesn’t it look stately as it sits on the shelf? It might, but it would look a lot cooler if you used the pages to make one of these amazing folded paper pieces of art.
Yuto Yamaguchi is the patient and inventive individual behind OruFun, which combines the word oru (Japanese for “to fold”) with, well fun.
By precisely folding the hundreds of pages in a book, Yamaguchi creates 3-D images. For those looking to reproduce his works, he offers OruFun patterns in downloadable format through Etsy, priced at US$7.99 each. Each pattern description includes the required page size and number to complete the design.
These aren’t rudimentary shapes, either. Check out the perspective employed on this scene of a rabbit on the moon, a popular motif in Japanese folktales.
Then there’s this profile of a bride about to walk down the aisle, which even accounts for the transparency of her veil.
Sometimes, the linguistic cycle comes full circle, as Yamaguchi folds up papers covered with words to spell out new ones.
Other times, though, there’s no need to explicitly state the film that’s inspiring him, like with the signature silhouette of The Little Mermaid’s Ariel.
▼ More ocean life
▼ Warming the heart
▼ Warming the body
But while the combination of crafts and books might make you think Yamaguchi is a completely mellow guy with nothing but the quietest of hobbies, he’s also a huge fan of American professional wrestling, specifically the WWE variety.
As a matter of fact, Yamaguchi seems to have a soft spot for American-style action in general.
▼ Robots in disguise…as books!
It’s especially cool that the book’s hardcover operates like a stand, eliminating the need for any framing or mounting to display the artwork.
And while Yamaguchi clearly has a fondness for books, he’s no Luddite, as this OruFun project proves.
▼ Just the thing for someone who likes new media as well as old
You can check out the rest of Yamaguchi’s work on his Etsy page here. Oh, and don’t woryy if you love the look but can’t bear the thought of folding up a book of your own (possibly making a mistake along the way), because completed OruFun books are available as well.
Related: OruFun Etsy page, Instagram/yutoyamaguchi