As of October 10, 2020, all of Poland is covered by the yellow zone. This means the obligation to wear masks not only indoors, but also on the streets. We would like to remind you of the project of Dr. Anna Myczkowska-Szczerska from the Department of Industrial Forms at the Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, who created a protective mask from paper this spring. The origami mask proposal can be an ad hoc and helpful solutionwhen we don't have a professional protective mask. See step by step how to make one at home.
From what and how to make an origami mask?
All you need is a piece of thin paper towel, two prescription rubber bands and two staples to make a mask. The design is based on the Asian art of paper folding - origami - which allows you to obtain spatial forms from a flat piece of material through a series of folds, without cutting or gluing. This is what the author says about the project:
So a few days ago I developed a proposal for a possible self-made mask, which, with the absence of other safeguards, could serve us. It is worth making it very clear that this is a crisis concept - the concept of a makeshift face shield, which is only ad hoc and disposable, and can find use in short-term use, such as going to a nearby store or throwing out the trash [...]. I think it can also protect against reflexive, uncontrolled touching of the face and provide some barrier to dangerous airborne droplets.
origami mask step by step
© Anna Myczkowska-Szczerska
how to wear a mask made of paper?
The result of folding paper according to the described design is a stable, multi-layered form that lies very well on the face, covering the area from the nose to the chin. The mask should lie on the face, but should not be pressed against it particularly tightly, so as not to impede breathing. The multi-layered nature of the paper gives quite good insulation.
multilayer origami mask
© Anna Myczkowska-Szczerska
Therapeutic art of origami - not only in the physical dimension
Another advantage of the project is its therapeutic effect on mood. Origami improves mood, stimulates creativity and stimulates constructional thinking. It develops spatial imagination, teaches patience, precision, perseverance and following certain rules. According to Dr. Anna Myczkowska-Szczerska:
Origami also has a strictly utilitarian dimension - for example, there is known research on the use of origami in medicine, its use in engineering, including space conquest. From the comments of Internet users posted under the project, we can see that making a mask on one's own can also bring joy and relaxation, even if instead of the expected mask one gets a crane or other structure. Do not be discouraged, explaining it by lack of manual skills - to start enjoying origami, all you need is the desire and such a degree of dexterity as is sufficient to tie shoelaces.
You, too, should give it a try - downloadable instructions are attached and on the Facebook page of the Industrial Forms Department.
compiled by: Dobrawa Bies
illustrations courtesy of Anna Myczkowska-Szczerska
