Mui-Ling Teh is an artist, photographer, and poet of Japanese and Chinese descent. She produces art both traditionally and digitally, but at present, she is best known for her miniature origami.
Teh's origami began as photography props, sometimes accompanied by her poetry. In 2014 she transitioned to exhibiting and selling her original creations in public. Teh has mostly exhibited her art through the Japanese Community, but she has also exhibited within the local Chinese and Korean communities, along with art galleries in Toronto and the United Kingdom. She has also taught origami in a few workshops.
The sentiment behind Teh's origami is often inspired by the paper crane, and its symbolism of peace and good luck. While incorporating themes of joy and hope in her work, Teh donates a portion of her profit from art sales to charities like Camp Oochigeas, which shares similar values.
Gallery
The miniature origami work of Mui-Ling Teh is comprised of classic origami forms as well as original ones, but the real power of the tiny pieces is the context in which they are presented and photographed - from a voyage on a lifeline to the sakura of hope.
Wish
In this photo, I present a dandelion with seeds in the form of miniature paper cranes. To produce the dandelion, I first wrapped tape around one end of a straw. I then blew into the other end to inflate the tape wrapping, then attached a cluster of cranes to the inflated tape. Next, to create the photo, I taped the dandelion and the blown paper crane ‘seeds’ to my computer screen. After pulling up an image of the sky onto my screen, I laid my face against it then took this photo.
In Japan, the origami crane is a symbol of peace and good luck. Cranes are considered auspicious creatures believed to live for 1000 years; and it is said, according to a Japanese legend, that one wish is granted upon folding 1000 paper cranes. Meanwhile in the west, people have been wishing upon dandelions as they blow them; believing the seeds will carry their thoughts and dreams to their loved ones. Therefore, Wish combines the Japanese culture and western culture of making wishes.
“May every seed fly its way to you,
Upon its wings may every wish come true.”
Red String of Fate
Red String of Fate is based on a Chinese myth - that the gods tie an invisible red string around the ankles of men and women destined to be soul mates. This myth has also been adapted into other East Asian cultures.
In this photo, the red string frames my greatest passion. I have been in love with art since an early age; but out of discouragement of becoming a starving artist, I studied architecture. Following a dark period of my post-secondary career, I had doubts about my studies. At the same time, I felt the desire to pursue art again. Then one day, while daydreaming, I accidentally discovered my ability to fold miniature origami. Since then, I have folded many miniature creations. Today I work in the field of architecture; but in my heart, I remain an artist.
“I feel my heart being pulled when we are not together,
Longing for the day we are with each other.
The thread between us will never break;
Our destinies are tied by the red string of fate.”
Freedom
After two years of exhibiting my origami through photography, I began creating pieces to exhibit in real life.
The creation of Freedom was an intricately delicate process. From a single sheet of paper, I cut a series of small squares - each with one corner left uncut, then carefully folded into a crane without being detached from the paper.
The contrast between the black squares and the white sheet represents the coexistence of light and darkness, while the cranes fly out from the squares like sparks of hope set free from the dark.
“We were all once stardust; we came from the sky.
Some of us stayed on the ground; others learned to fly.”
Life is a Journey
Throughout my years folding miniature origami, I have gone through many phases; from an online portfolio to gallery exhibitions. In 2014, I began incorporating my origami into small bottles, often accompanied by words or messages.
I began folding miniature origami while completing my undergraduate degree in architecture. It helped me take my mind off the stress of everyday life; until one day, after I started my masters, an unfortunate incident made me depressed and lose my passion - eventually I quit my masters and went into the workforce. A couple of months into work I re-kindled my lost passion, but then the problem was the lack of time. Finally, in 2012, I decided to leave my job to pursue my dreams. Since then, I became more active with my art, and began creating these bottles, before returning to architecture at the end of 2017.
Even after returning to architecture, I continued to participate in vendor booths, exhibitions, and eventually participated in my first artist in residence program and exhibition abroad.
“My body is tiny
My adventures are many
A never-ending story
Life is a Journey”
Gallery
Kami
In my hand is a lock of my hair, and a bottle with an origami crane inside. “Kami” かみ can mean different things, such as paper, for making origami. Kami can also mean God; thus, origami is considered a spiritual art form. The most common model, the paper crane, is a symbol of peace and good luck that comes with the legend that if one folds 1000 paper cranes their wish will come true. Paper cranes are therefore common gifts for sending well wishes. Kami can also mean hair, and while peace doves hold olive branches, my crane holds a cancer ribbon made from my hair.
In 2020 I donated my hair to be made into a wig for children dealing with hair loss due to cancer. Prior to my haircut, I have been donating proceeds from my art sales to Camp Oochigeas, a charity that helps send children with and affected by cancer to camp.
Most of my bottled creations are accompanied by words or messages of positivity, such as Peace, Love, and Hope. Making art helps me forget the stress and negativity that occur in my life; just as Camp Ooch helps children forget they have cancer, and instead bring them the joys of being a kid. My art has always been important to me; and ever since I began donating to Camp Ooch, I found greater reason to pursue my art: to bring joy and hope to children with cancer.
“If good intentions can heal the incurable
There is hope in the power of miracles”
Transformation
The ballet ‘Swan Lake’ tells the story of a princess who transforms into a swan by day and a princess by night. In the art of origami, a single sheet of paper is transformed into a three-dimensional form. While many of my origami art pieces consist of traditional models taught in books, I occasionally invent my own models where I come up with the folding process myself.
The ballerina and the swan are both my own original creations. Unlike many origami models that can be reproduced identically again and again, the folding process of the ballerina is more sculptural, and therefore yields a different result every time. Furthermore, the arms and legs can be adjusted to form different postures. Folded with trace paper, and encased in glass, light shines onto and through the ballerina in however way she is posed - an ever-changing piece of paper.
“A swan by day and a princess by night
Everyday dancing in a different light”
Homeland
Homeland features an origami crane+maple leaf folded out of a single piece of paper, along with two maple leaves and a miniature origami crane. The crane leaf, and the maple leaf are models I invented myself.
I began my bottled origami series during a period where I made many new Japanese friends in Canada; most who came from Japan on visas. This piece is inspired by those who now call Canada their home. In many cases however, this did not happen without overcoming challenges. The bottom crane symbolises their initial arrival in Canada; where they, like many newcomers, felt small and overwhelmed by their unfamiliar surroundings. But overtime, as they got used to Canadian life, they became one with the land they now call home.
“After years of unfamiliarity made me feel alone
I am glad I can finally call this land my home”
More Precious Than Money
In 2018 I was stressed; I worked like a dog, sometimes up to 80 hours a week. Into the following year of the pig, I created this piece with the goal of buying back lost time. Instead of money, pages of a calendar fill this origami piggy bank; for time is more precious than money. Little did I expect this artwork would become a reality later that year.
In the summer of 2019, I participated in an artist in residence program and exhibition in the United Kingdom. On top of investing in the program and the air fare, I took a long sabbatical from work to fulfil this experience; and it was well worth living the most amazing 3 weeks of my entire life.
The following year the world was struck by COVID-19, making me even more grateful I took up this opportunity when I did - in this day, during a global pandemic, money would not buy me the same kind of experience.
“My most valuable possession exists in my memory
Every second matters, time is more precious than money”
Gensei
Cherry blossom season is a remarkably beautiful spectacle. It is also very short-lived. The cherry blossoms therefore remind us of the value of time, and to cherish every moment. This is the meaning behind the Japanese expression "Gensei" 現世- to live in the now. After the breakout of COVID-19 changed the world, this sentiment resonated with me more than ever.
This piece was created during the cherry blossom season in 2020; but due to lockdown, I was enjoying ‘hanami’ (flower viewing) indoors instead. The year before, I took up the most amazing opportunity; one that I was initially intimidated to pursue. So rather than loathing self-isolation, or the inability to exhibit art in live events anymore, I am grateful for all the opportunities I took up while I still had the chance.
“In the present that we know as today,
May peace and light find your way.”