Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding. A sheet of paper, generally square, is folded and creased in a specified manner to achieve a given result.
Traditional Japanese origami originated several hundred years ago, and was a less stringent art where papers of different shapes were used, and even cut if desired. During the last century, the practice of origami was given new shape and direction, mainly by Japanese artist Akira Yoshizawa. Various forms of the art emerged, including the modular, kirikomi, purist and pureland forms. Wet-folding techniques were further developed to allow shaping of curves.
Today a variety of papers and other materials are used in origami, depending upon the techniques to be used and the desired effects. Normal copy paper is used for simple folds, and heavier weight paper for wet-folding. Special origami paper called "kami”, which is usually colored on one side and white on the other, is also used. Two colored and patterned versions are used for certain models. Origami paper weighs slightly less than copy paper, making it suitable for a wider range of models. Foil-backed paper and tissue foil are suitable for complex models. Artisan papers such as unryu, lokta, hanji, gampi, kozo, saa have long fibres and are often extremely strong and allow intricate modelling.
Techniques of origami find also place in mathematical and scientific models, as in the deployment of large solar panel arrays for space satellites. 
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