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Artist Skillfully Folds Single Sheets of Paper Into Expressive Origami Animals

Origami extraordinaire Gonzalo Garcia Calvo meticulously crafts expressive and imaginative paper creatures. Using only his hands and a single, square sheet of colorful paper, the Madrid-based artist brings the animal kingdom to life through intricate folds.

From the cute and cuddly—like his slinky cats and energetic dogs—to more exotic wildlife—including a tiny treefrog and an elegant giraffe—the creatures that comprise his collection represent a wide array of animal life.  Some, like his exquisite unicorn and fierce dragon, are even mythical. Whether real or imaginary, however, all of his creations demonstrate Calvo's indisputable talent and unwavering patience.

While many modern origami artists use multiple sheets of paper, adhesives, and scissors to sculpt their creations, Calvo's method remains true to the ancient craft's rudimentary roots; he uses just one square of paper per piece and only his fingers to bring his fantastic designs to life. He does, however, enjoy experimenting with different patterns, textures, and types of paper—including one that features fur, making his wooly mammoth actually wooly!

Through his stunning sculptures, Gonzalo Garcia Calvo successfully communicates the “feeling of fragility and delicacy” intrinsic to the origami art form. 

Gonzalo Garcia Calvo: Flickr 
via [Citkart]

All images via Gonzalo Garcia Calvo.

Kelly Richman-Abdou

Kelly Richman-Abdou was a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. An art historian living in Paris, Kelly was born and raised in San Francisco and holds a BA in Art History from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University. When she’s not writing, you can find Kelly wandering around Paris, whether she’s leading a tour (as a guide, she has been interviewed by BBC World News America and France 24) or simply taking a stroll with her husband and two tiny daughters.
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