For me, one of the remarkable peculiarities of being an artist is how simple things so easily transcend their mundane nature and remind you of how utterly fascinating and complex the world really is. We are surrounded by hidden patterns, connections and mysteries that are not easy to discern. There is always this sense that the Universe is screaming and we are deaf. But occasionally, if you’re very still and you listen patiently, you can sometimes hear it and take away a small piece of the truth. Those small realizations change lives. It’s an awkward thing to live with such awareness at times, at the crossroads of intuition and reason, because while the view is sometimes enlightening, the leap from curiosity to compulsion is small.

I’ve had a lifelong fascination with folding. It’s such a simple act, really. To bend, to crease, to bring together. It’s archetypal, allegorical. My fascination with the idea is largely in understanding how this simple mechanic relates to the world as a metaphorical concept. It started as a child when I was taught origami. I didn’t have too many toys… but I had an abundance of paper, pencils and string, all of which still resonate passionately with me to this day. Those that know me still see me absentmindedly folding paper cranes, turtles, penguins and rabbits when my hands are idle.

I recently had the pleasure of watching Between the Folds, a documentary on paper folding by Vanessa Gould, released by Green Fuse Films. It’s a compelling look at the notion of potential and of transformation. Gould really hit a lot of the high notes, bringing together science, art, mathematics, airbags and DNA. It’s a beguiling survey of the craft which pays a lot of respect to notion that simplicity begets potential, and from potential you can realize profundity. It recently aired on PBS under their Independent Lens series and is available on DVD direct from the publisher.