Customer Reviews

Origami Tessellations: Fantastic Paper Geometry

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Wonderful book if you are interested in origami tessellations. The book's layout is excellent with many ideas to get you started but not so many so that you feel overwhelmed.
Just watch out if you are expecting such origami tessellations to be similar to conventional origami - they actually aren't, but they are not very difficult to learn, and they are fascinating, especially if you are the type that likes modular origami and are interested in the geometry and patterns.

This book is a great primer on the principles of the most gorgeously abstract discipline in origami -- tessellations, repeated patterns in paperfolding that result in a flat planar surface. The pictures are wonderful and illustrate many of the basic ideas, and the directions are clear and will give anyone the grounding they need to branch off on their own and design new tessellations based on the building blocks this volume teaches. The instructions are also clear, and Gjerde is careful to warn the newbie about any pitfalls particular to a diagram.

I can recommend this book to anyone -- but just make sure to purchase some mulberry paper before you open the book, because your fingers will start to itch the minute you finish it!

Eric Gjerde has been impressing the origami world for years with his amazing tessellations. This is a wonderful book. It covers the whole range of designs, from ones you could pick up in minutes to excitingly-complex ones. For the beginner, the instructions are clear and the photos are gorgeous. If you're an experienced folder, there are designs that will keep you busy for hours watching the design evolve. As an added bonus, it's an excellent resource when your friends ask you to teach them how you folded it.

Unlike so many books with a superlative in the title, this one is at the level of "awe-inspiring." A tessellation is when a design is repeated so that it covers (at least in theory) the plane. Given that their religion prohibited the use of images, Islamic artists concentrated their creative energies on the creation of tessellations. That artwork has great beauty and some of it is successfully mimicked by the paper constructions featured in this book.
You cannot help but be amazed at the talent needed to fold paper so these tessellations are created, including some three-dimensional features. Detailed explanations of how the structures are created are included, but I would have been in over my head if I had tried any. However, experienced paper folders will be able to follow the explanations and create true artwork.
I have read and reviewed several books on advanced origami and to date have always been amazed at the structures that are created. In this book, the level of my amazement has gone up a notch or two.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission.

I bought this book with the belief that it would give me clear instructions with enough explanation on how to fold tessellations. The style of writing is friendly. The images and photos of the designs are glorious but how to actually achieve them seems to be illusive. I found the written instructions made little sense and I am frustrated at the obstacle of trying to make sense of what is being said. It seems to be written for those whose experience is more extensive. I have made some tessellations from other sources and looks like I will have to continue to do so as this book does not solve my problems.

Amazing book that we plan to use to demonstrate the math and art connections in our school.

A very carefully assembled text with first class images and diagrams. Provided the information is followed exactly and the right materials are used then the results can be fantastic, highly recommended.

Para todos aquellos que imaginamos por un momento que teniamos tiempo libre, Eric Gjerde acabo con ese instante. Este maravilloso libre es absolutamente enviciante... Piensen en esto... lo cargo en el morral (y no le puedo sacar) y me la paso asi sea doblando reticulas y reticulas pq qusiera llenar mis paredes de Tessellations!!!
Gracias de verdad Eric por develarnos este gran misterio de papel. :)