Origami artist creates stunning artwork from 108-m strip he cut from single sheet of A4
A Chinese artist cut a strip of paper almost the length of an American football field from just one sheet of A4.
Pei Haozheng later transformed the 108.15 m (354 ft 9 in) strip – the longest strip cut from one sheet of paper - into a stunning piece of art.
And this was actually his third paper-based world record.
He folded the most origami flowers made from a single sheet of paper (100) in 2022 and created the largest origami snail (4.10 m (13 ft 5.4 in) x 1.47 m (4 ft 9.8 in) x 1.30 m (4 ft 3.1 in)) in 2023.
He said of his latest title: “This world record was a personal challenge to explore the limits of topological transformation of this single sheet of paper.”
Pei, also known as Hotz Pei, had to cut one continuous strip of paper from an A4 sheet without any breakages.
The minimum to beat was 2.75 m, but he absolutely obliterated that.
He said: “The strip I created measured 108.15 metres long and 0.5 millimetres wide. The entire process, from initial preparation to trials and errors to the official attempt and the final artwork, Between Chaos and Order, took approximately one year.
I’ve always been captivated by the boundless possibilities of paper and the intricate patterns that can be created through origami or kirigami techniques.
Kirigami is similar to origami but allows for paper to be cut as well as folded.
Pei had to find the perfect material for his record attempt, eventually settling on a silver piece of A4 paper with a mirror-like reflective surface.
He experimented with three different cutting methods, but said it was the simplest and “most primitive” method – simply cutting it with a pair of scissors – that proved the most effective.
He went on: “The third step was the formal attempt, which demanded precision, patience, and technical skill.
Between Chaos and Order
“I carefully cut the paper, resulting in a strip that resembled a tangle of raffia grass. In the fourth step, I transformed the 108.15 m of paper strips into an artistic and organized artwork shaped like a cerebral nerve slice.”
He named his artwork Between Chaos and Order.
Explaining his piece, he said: “Natural systems can be categorized into three types: repetitive systems, like salt crystals, where particles are arranged with perfect regularity; random systems, whose behaviour is unpredictable; and chaotic systems, the most complex, falling between the two. Interestingly, while the brain’s functions are highly chaotic, human behaviour often exhibits patterns and regularities.
Pei's artwork with the most origami flowers folded from one sheet of paper
Thus, the artwork transcends its physical form to become a philosophical exploration of space, dimension, and the human condition. It invites viewers to contemplate the interplay between art and science, the macrocosm and the microcosm.
Pei has been doing origami since he was a child, and says he became fascinated by the way he could transform a single piece of paper into so many shapes and figures.
As an artist, he’s created hundreds of origami works that have gone on display in museums and organizations around the world.
Pei's largest origami snail
“It feels incredibly gratifying to hold these Guinness World Records titles,” Pei confessed.
“I’m honoured to be recognized for my achievement and hope that it will inspire others to pursue their passions and push the boundaries of what is possible.”