Different

Origami is the art of folding paper. Since its emergence in Japan in 17th century AD, Origami has been classified as a decorative art form. However, by mid 19th century, the perception of Origami had shifted in the direction of modern art. The recent movements within this category of art have proved that Origami is more than just turning a two-dimensional surface into a three-dimensional object. Etienne Cliquet is an artist/researcher based in Paris who has explored numerous horizons within this area. His work explores the concept of Origami through its application across various media. The project Digital Display examines the relevance between concepts of form and medium. The installation appears as a grid of closed origami that can be unfolded to reveal the orange paper on the inside, or re-folded to their neutral grey shell. The work is highly reminiscent of digital displays. Xia Zai, another project by Etienne, applies the same idea in terms of a shift between the modes of media.
“IPv6” is the title of a project by Etienne through which he visualizes the idea of new versions of the Internet Protocol Addresses. He employs a sheet of paper, one square meter in size with 2000 folding points. These points represent the number of unique IPv6 addresses that can be covered per micro-square meter. In World Internet Statistics he continues to explore the realm of shifting media through representing various statistical data such as the Internet level of penetration, top ten languages used on the web, search engine world record and so on. The length of each origami’s flap measures the quantity of information such as: country name, browser name, display resolution and so on.

Origami X26 is an Origami reproduction of an actual taser, Taser X26. It consists of a double-sided poster with the crease-pattern of the electric rifle on one side and map of Paris on the other side. Although Tasers are banned in many countries, they are still used by the national police in Paris. The contradictory quality of the images on each side of the poster speaks to the idea of double-faced city of Paris.
Since 2004, Etienne has been developing his researches into the practice of Origami and its relationship to technology. He attempts to demonstrate an analogy between the fragility of folding, the versatility of the Internet and the precariousness of our work and life in the contemporary world. His projects focus on the idea of representation and from his point of view, the concept of ‘folding’ is not restricted to paper. By folding paper he believes he is actually putting sense and information into a work of origami. In doing so, his work generates meaning from both aesthetic and conceptual points of view.
www.ordigami.net​