Leong Cheng Chit

Models by Leong Cheng Chit

Welcome to Leong Cheng Chit's page! Cheng Chit is a Singaporean paperfolder who is quite proficient in creating three-dimensional models despite having only begun folding about a year ago! If you enjoy his work, let him know!

Cheng Chit's three-dimensional folding is based on ideas in the field of Catastrophe Theory. Read about his ideas!

You can also see a wide variety of Cheng Chit's models on Yahoo! Photos.

Here are Cheng Chit's diagrams for folding the Golden and Platinum Rectangles. Cheng Chit has also done some paper strip folding, such as this "Cycle of Life", folded from a 1x22 strip of paper. The folding process goes through the following phases:

Ring: Age of Innocence
Cog Wheel: Attending to Basic Needs, and
Star: Self Actualization

Here are some of his creations, along with his own descriptions:

Face, from the Front

A human face, a la Eric Joisel. The model is folded from a 2x1 rectangle. The main features of the face are formed by the types of folds described in "Origami and Catastrophe Theory". Contouring, or soft folding, gives the face character.

Face, from the Side

This face, shown from the side, has an altered hair style and more accentuated features. You can also take a look at a a special "Portrait" version of this model!

Champagne Glass

The champagne glass model consists of one basic fold repeated several times. The fold lines are sinusoidal curves and are themselves the intersections of sinusoidal surface fragments. The fold is the 3-D equivalent of the double reverse fold. However, if the model is formed by double reverse folds, the curveous effect would not be obtained. This fold and its higher order variations are used in my 3-D origami models.

Dog Bust

This model has very few (if any) non-3D folds. It is more of a molding and shaping of the paper, and can be thought of as sculpture with paper.

Vase

Cheng Chit designs many models using the reverse fold, which he considers the basis of flat origami (as opposed to the 3D, sculpted models). This model, for instance, is made with all reverse folds.

Tyrannosaurus Rex

The Tyrannosaurus Rex was created in the traditional flat folding style, except for the ending 3D folds to give it "body". It is actually an adaptation of David Brill's rhinoceros, using a kite-shaped piece of paper instead of the usual square. This shape allows for the long tail, compared to the short tail of Brill's rhinoceros.

Spiral Seashell

The spiral seashell is folded from a triangular piece of paper obtained by dividing a 4x1 rectangle along it's diagonal. The same 3D fold pattern is repeated along the two long edges with diminishing scale. Note that the shell has a clockwise spiral.

Turtle

The Galapagos giant tortoise model starts with a preliminary base. Some of the flat folds are then refolded into 3D folds and the model is completed with 3D folding.

Wine Glass

This model was folded from 2x1 rectangular paper. Consists of one type fold repeated several times. May not be original but so far I have not come across any other similar design. A good model to illustrate an origami mathematical concept.

Female Torso

Another sculpture with paper, containing almost all 3-D folds.

Duck

Another model to illustrate the various basic 3D (and 2D) folds. Model consists of one or two (one on each side) of the basic 2D and 3D origami folds.

Dove

2D and 3D folding model. (My earlier Shepherd dog bust and female torso models are practically all 3D folding.)

Seal

Same 3D folding base as Dove model, but different folding for head, legs and rear section.

Free form

A a free-form model folded from a square piece of paper. It consists of one of each of the three basic 3D folds. Each fold retains its shape independly, combining to give the model a pleasing form.

Hyperbolic Trefoil

Cheng Chit's Hyperbolic Trefoil is modeled after the one discussed in the February 2000 issue of Scientific American and is an excellent showcase of Cheng Chit's three-dimensional artwork (the article was by Ian Stewart and was entitled, "Real and Virtual Sculptures"). The Hyperbolic Trefoil model consists of 3 monkey saddle units, each folded from a square piece of paper. The three directions of downward curvature (two for the legs and one for the tail) of the monkey saddle are easily achieved with a butterfly crimp fold. This is supplemented by tactical flat and 3D folding to give the form a correct orientation as well as to facilitate assembly. Like the Möbius band, the Hyperbolic Trefoil has only one side.