David Mitchell's Origami Heaven
 
Partnership Art
 
Partnership art is a concept that expresses the partnership that exists in craft origami, and can exist in origami as art, between the designer, who first conceptualises and defines the design, and the folder who realises one particular expression of it at one particular point in time. Both contribute in partnership to the finished paperfold or artwork.

This separation of design and realisation allows a delicate artwork to be created in situ and so avoids the risk of damage in transit. Furthermore it means that each realisation will not only be remote in space and time but also unique to the context in which it is to be created and displayed.

In addition the concept of partnership art harmonises well with the idea of origami as a transitory artform, one that is not intended to last in any particular realisation but that can, and should, be realised over and over again in many different contexts.
 
The Octahedral Pyramid

In 2008 this design was selected for inclusion in the Material Immaterial - Paper Art in Israel exhibition at the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv.

The sculpture was realised as partnership art in Israel by the exhibition curator Paul Jackson.

The units were folded by Gila Oren, Ilan Garibi, Gadi Vishna and Regev Hauschner from custom silver pearlised paper.

The sculpture is 55cm high.

The nolid octahedra were designed by Robert Neale. I conceived of the pyramidal form and designed the joining units.

  
     
Alpha Pyramids

At SEOF 2002, held in Charlotte, USA, Jonathan Baxter and a team of paperfolders created a number of large partnership art wall panels (of which just two are shown) using my Alpha Pyramid macro-modular design.

Pat Bush, writing on the Origami Mailing List, described this installation as 'the one that made my spirits soar' and explained, 'I was inspired because it is something I can strive for in this lifetime. Some of the other artists had accomplished unbelievable feats with paper, but the models were so complex, it was like a sinner gazing upon heaven - so very, very glorious but you ain't ever gonna get there'.

  
     

 
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