I just completed my first Golden Venture Folding project—also known as Chinese Origami—a delightful, ball-like model. While the actual assembly takes only a few minutes, the preparation can span several hours over a few days.
What makes this project intriguing is that it involves assembling small components to create the final object. In this sense, it resembles LEGO or building blocks. However, the similarities end there.
So, what sets it apart? Unlike LEGO, where pieces are ready-made, each component in Golden Venture Folding requires meticulous folding. Most models consist of identical bi-triangular units (see image), which can be crafted in various colors for added flair. Since these components aren’t pre-formed, you must fold each one individually. While some choose to enlist the help of friends and family (yes, a YouTuber did this!), others might seek out pre-made options—if such a market exists!
Folding these units can be quite tedious. Like any large project, producing hundreds or even thousands of components can become repetitive. Do you have the perseverance to see it through?
Once the units are ready, combining them becomes a creative endeavor. You can insert a “sudden” piece between two adjacent units to create an expanding plane or reduce the number of pieces in the next layer to “shrink” the structure you’re building.
Beware: a mistake in a stage may go unnoticed, only to reveal itself in later layers. You might find yourself dismantling and reworking sections or devising clever ways to conceal errors. Maintaining focus at every step is crucial.
In life, we acquire units of skills, knowledge, resources, and connections. Some add up to become bigger units and create an immediate impact. Some, on the other hand, maybe “sleepers” and only become important much later in life.
Are you aware of those “units”? Have you combined units to facilitate your growth and development? Have you abandoned units that now become missing pieces?