Tim Murphy was inspired to teach himself origami after seeing the film Blade Runner
in 1982. In a scene, a police officer folds a candy wrapper into the shape of a chicken. The first book he bought featured some designs by Akira Yoshizawa. Little did Tim know that ten years later he would meet and fold with the renowned master from Japan.
Tim’s most memorable workshop was conducted in China on a Yangtze River cruise. He taught the classic Flapping Bird.
Another memorable experience was folding a Senbazuru, or Thousand Paper Cranes which he brought to Hiroshima, Japan.
Tim lives in Toronto with his wife of over thirty years, whom he met at Harbourfront while teaching origami. His origami business is called Thousand Crane Paper Folding.
Gallery
The origami work of Tim Murphy plays with scale, sculptural form, design and repetition with a difference. His masks are larger than life sculptural pieces, while other pieces are studies in colour and design variations. The animals are dynamic and express a kind of contained energy.
Aqua - A large drop of water (two feet high).
Electro - The top flaps of this mask are pleated to evoke the impression of radiated energy.
Fuse Boxes - This eight-piece box by Tomoko Fuse is a personal favourite. Tim has folded
it in many different sizes using a variety of papers and patterns.
Grasshopper - Designer: John Montroll - Many people find it hard to believe this is folded from a single, uncut square of paper. The four corners of the square are the tips of the antennae and the hind legs.
Horse - Designer: John Montroll - A personal favourite, Tim met John Montroll while teaching paper folding during an international origami conference held in New York City.
Sea Turtle - Designer: Akira Yoshizawa - The texture of this form is enhanced by using Washi, hand-made Japanese paper.
T-Rex - Designer: Issei Yoshino - This 21-piece dinosaur skeleton is considered by many paper folders to be a ground-breaking design in the origami world.
Piano - Designer: Patricia Crawford - This version is enhanced by using sheet-music wrapping paper. Tim once folded over 100 miniature pianos made from foil which were used for 3-D party invitations.
The Three Gorges (Grey) Slender Letter Lock (White) K Tato (Green)
Nesting Tatos - The two smallest represent Yoshizawa’s original design, while the larger ones are Tim’s adaptations.
