Call it preparing for summer vacations by learning a new skill and experimenting with it over the vacation or a medium to stregthen the bond between a mother and a daughter, by working with papers or just giving a name to the hobby of experimenting and playing around with papers, the two-day Kirigami workshop at Our Sacred Space was filled with fun and excitement.
On day-one, participants came up with different shapes like humans standing in a circle, rangolis, wall designs, fishes, trees, using A4 size glaze paper. It is advisable to use Origami paper for Kirigami, because the paper is very thin and works well, and heavy paper leads to bulky folds.
Kirigami is similar to origami but the only difference is that in former, you fold and cut the paper. “As most of the participants at this workshop are new to this art form, I started with the basics. However, one can also go on to making a building or any structure they wish to,” B Devakiran, Kirigami tutor at the workshop says.
On day-two the participants made apple shaped greeting cards. Each one holding a red craft paper in their hand along with scissors and adhesive at the side, old and young alike were engrossed and excited to come up with an apple greeting card.
The participants were taught to make an apple pop up card. All the paper pieces were cut and stuck together at the tip and at two points in the middle, so that all the layers formed a semicircle. The layers on both the ends were then stuck to a stiff black craft sheet which made the cover of the greeting card.
When asked for ideas on what to do with Kirigami aside from enjoying the cutting process, he answers that shapes can be stacked to use as gift adornments. There is no boundary to what their free and creative individual imagination can envisage.
So how did B Devakiran learn this art? “I started learning it when I was in Class VII but took it seriously just four years back. I experimented with papers and came up with designs myself,” he explains.
The Government also has been instrumental in encouraging his talent. “I conduct three-day Kirigami in most of the Government Schools. They enjoy as it gives them relief from studies,” he elaborates. He also teaches in Gowtham Model School in the city.
“Private schools don’t encourage Kirigami,” he adds. “These schools only focus on teaching subjects to kids. Though craft is a part of their syllabus, they don’t give importance to it,” he says validating his statement.
Devakiran has also come up with a book on Kirigami titled ‘Creativity in Action’ which contains around 50 varieties of Kirigami.
Vacation Fun
Dr Sakina, mother of Sara, one of the participants at the workshop wants her daughter to use her time wisely during vacations and that’s the reason she got her to attend the workshop. “She is interested in art. If making one apple card takes two hours, she can use her entire day in making and creating new stuff.”
Spending time with kids
Geetanjali, one of the participants at the workshop who came with her daughter, says, “I hardly get time to spend with her as I am either busy at office or with household chores. My whole purpose of coming here is to spend quality time with her and do something creative.”