The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

Origami—”to fold paper”—is a Japanese art form in which a single sheet of paper is folded, without cuts or glue, into a shape that represents a bird, flower, or other common thing. The practice was active in Japan by the late 1500s, and formal decorative systems were introduced. During the late 1800s, European techniques of napkin folding were added to the form. Origami technique expanded greatly during the 1900s. Interest in the mathematics of folds also increased, adding complexity.

Today, origami is practiced worldwide, mainly as a hobby. A related art, Kirigami—“to cut paper”—uses origami techniques but also makes cuts that sometimes create long strings of repeating shapes.

The centerpiece of The Strange Case of Origami Yoda is origami-shaped like the character Yoda from the Star Wars movies. Dwight Tharp, an origami hobbyist, creates origami Yoda, using it as a puppet to dispense advice to his fellow students and to influence events on campus. This unusual use of the origami art form speaks to Dwight’s strange and eccentric mind.