Rachel Quinlan

Statement

I am an academic mathematician with an interest in geometric origami, and in the idea that mathematics can be discovered, explored and communicated through physical experiences that do not always involve words. This work explores the relationship between folded and unfolded forms of Shuzo Fujimoto's famous origami hydrangea. The two flat sheets were created by painting the exposed surfaces on the front and back of a folded hydrangea, then unfolding. Since the folded form covers a square whose area is one quarter of that of the original sheet, the red area in each sheet amounts to one quarter of the total. The equations note geometric series whose sums are demonstrated (and arguably proved) by inspection of the folded and unfolded models.

Artworks

This work was created by painting the exposed front and back surfaces of a folded Fujimoto hydrangea, and then unfolding the paper. The finished work shows the folded and unfolded forms. The pattern and distribution of colour, and the visible creases allow the viewer to consider what is invisible in the folded models. Since the folded hydrangea visibly occupies one quarter of the area of the square sheet, the total coloured area in each case must account for one quarter of the total, an observation that is noted in the handwritten equations.