Designed by Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA) with Jennifer Kwok, Those two Digital Origami Tigers combine ancient lantern making methods with cutting edge digital design and fabrication technology, the tigers brought east and west together through tradition and innovation, touring for the endangered species.
Two Digital Origami Tigers started their world travels celebrating Chinese New Year at Customs House, Sydney in 2010, went to Kuala Lumpur for KL Design Week, Berlin for the WWF awareness campaign, Singapore in the i-Light Marina Bay Festival and on a USA tour starting at San Francisco Zoo in 2011.
Courtesy of LAVACourtesy of LAVA
The crouching digital tigers combine ancient lantern making methods with cutting edge digital design and fabrication technology, bringing east and west together through tradition and innovation. The big cats were a collaboration between LAVA and Customs House to mark the lunar year of the tiger and raise awareness about the endangered status of tigers.
Courtesy of LAVA
The tigers are inspired by “zhezhi”, a Chinese term for paper folding, more popularly known by its Japanese name “origami”. Traditional Chinese lantern makers in Sichuan province, where lantern making has been taking place for over 800 years, and local artisans were consulted. The Chinese or Lunar New Year is the most important Chinese holiday and starts with a Lantern Festival. The Chinese lunar astrological sign was the metal tiger in 2010.
Courtesy of LAVA
The tigers are the size of a boat at 2.5 metres high and 7 metres long yet weigh only200kgs and use fully recyclable materials, aluminium and barrisol, a new light weight reusable stretch material. Pulsating low energy LED lighting brings the sculptures to life.
The project continues LAVA’s mission in lightweight structures to build MORE WITH LESS. The tigers were part of an ongoing multidisciplinary program featuring contemporary architecture, installations, photography and digital media exhibitions in Customs House.”
