Ornamental Origami

Meenakshi Mukerji was born and raised in Kolkata, India. She obtained her BS in electrical engineering at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, and then came to the United States to pursue a master's degree in computer science at Portland State University, Oregon. She worked in the software industry for more than a decade before attending a class by Doug Philips, at which point she started folding modular origami and displaying it on her website (www.origamee.net). She has many designs to her credit. In 2005, Origami USA presented her with the Florence Temko award for her exceptional contribution to origami. Her first book, Marvelous Modular Origami, was published in 2007.

Ornamental Origami is Meenakshi Mukerji’s second book on modular origami. Those of you who are familiar with her first book will find that this second installment to be just as well organized with a slew of new origami models.—Origami Resource Center, 2011Opening Ornamental Origami by Meenakshi Mukerji gives me a pleasurable feeling. The glossy paper pages with their colorful photographs that alternate with step-by-step how-to directions entice me to pick up paper squares right away and start folding. In this second book by Mukerji there are 40 more clever, geometric, modular origami models for paperfolding enthusiasts.—Florence Temko, February 2009This is another excellent book by one of the rigami community’s highly-creative authors . . . and, just as with her first book, anyone looking to start out in decorative modular folding will also find this book a great resource.—Anne LaVin's Origami Blog, February 2009Ornamental Origami is a wonderful book for both math and origami lovers alike. . . . the author provides wonderful, clear descriptions and beautiful photographs. Another interesting aspect of the book is the afterward: a small collection of mathematical exercises related to folding paper. The problems were thought-provoking and again bridged the gap between math and origami.—MAA Reviews, March 2009Using color extensively in both diagrams and photographs, [Mukerji] walks readers through the elaborate constructions and illustrates the final pieces.—Book News, May 2009Meenakshi Mukerji’s book is essentially a study of polyhedra but in a way that brings out the symmetry in subtle ways. . . . It builds up very complicated results from simple modules so that even a beginner in origami can follow and learn about polyhedral symmetry by assembling them. It should definitely find a place in school teaching or mathematics clubs.—John Sharp, The London Mathematical Society Newsletter, May 2009This book is an excellent contribution to the growing interest in and publications on origami, the art of paper folding. The author uses a special (construction) method called modular origami. That means she folds identical modules, called units which are assembled (on 'tabs' and 'pockets') to the final model. This method is also the content of the author's first book Marvelous Modular Origami which should be regarded as the basis of this new book. The author points out the underlying mathematics behind her origami. ... In marvelous coloured pictures, more than 40 modular origami models are shown with explicit instructions for the construction. ... The reader is invited to follow the passion of paper folding inspired by the beautiful examples in this book.—Gertraud Ehrig, Zentralblatt MATH, September 2009children can learn origami techniques to create beautiful and varied geometric shapes.—Science News, November 2009This book, for both beginners and experts, provides guidance in creating modular origami from the basic to the intricate, including planar origami models. The target audience includes artists, mathematicians, and students over twelve. ... The book's strengths include (1) explaining the symbols and terminology and (2) applying mathematics to the planar models. The diagrams in the book help users follow along. ... I recommend this book for math teachers who want to collaborate with art teachers.—Colleen Eddy, Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, January 2010

• 1 Modular Origami Basics, 2 Windmill Base Models (Created October 2006), 3 Blintz Base Bouquets (Created May 2004), 4 Decorative Icosahedra (Created 2006?2008), 5 Embellished Sonobes (Created 2006?2007), 6 Embellished Floral Balls (Created 2006?2008), 7 Planars (Created 2002?2003)