Did you ever think paper could inspire steel? Here stands the Papier Plié Sculpture. It is not just a sculpture. It is an artistic marvel.
The Papier Plié Sculpture is a creation by Pierre Tual. He was born in 1941. The sculpture was gifted to the city by Feldmühle AG. This was to celebrate their 100-year anniversary.
The Papier Plié Sculpture translates to folded paper. It is aptly named. The sculpture sits before the main entrance. It used to be the Feldmühle AG headquarters.
The sculpture presents five layers. They are uniquely shaped. These layers are made of matte white thin stainless steel sheets. As you walk around Papier Plié Sculpture you gain new perspectives. It evokes thoughts of artistic paper creations. Other associations arise like an ice sea or glaciers.
The irregular shapes create contrast. It contrasts with the concentric stepped pedestal. The Papier Plié Sculpture rests on this pedestal. It weighs 2.4 tons.
The Papier Plié Sculpture was created in 1989. It is owned by the city of Düsseldorf. The sculpture is managed by the Cultural Office of Düsseldorf.
Consider origami. Origami is the art of paper folding. The word comes from Japanese. “Oru” means to fold. “Kami” means paper. This art dates back to the 6th century in China. It is called “zhézhǐ”. Buddhist monks brought it to Japan via Korea.
Origami is more than folding. Kirigami involves cutting paper. Pepakura uses papercraft. Unlike origami, it allows cutting and gluing. Japanese origami once decorated tables. It often adorned sake jugs.
The oldest religious use is the “katashiro”. It represents a deity. It is used in Shinto ceremonies at the Ise Shrine.
Origami is not just art. It’s a study for math teachers. It involves geometry. It enables angle trisection. This is impossible with a compass alone.
Origami has technical applications. It is used in solar panels on satellites. It helps deploy micro-probes in the human body. It even folds airbags.
Origami robots exist. They can walk and swim. They can carry small loads. These robots can be controlled magnetically. They might be used inside the human body one day.
The Papier Plié Sculpture captures this essence. It mirrors the delicate art of origami. But it is on a grand scale. It is a lasting tribute. It transforms a fleeting art form into permanent art.