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A Brilliant Use for Moneygami (Plus, the Prowess of Won Park's Bill-Folding)

Apr 26, 2011 11:00 PM

Last week, a waiter showed me something pretty neat. A habitual customer had made a tradition of leaving behind an impressive tip—not so much in terms of dollar amount, but in the presentation. Next to the check sat an amazing pyramidal structure, folded with multiple single dollar bills, and a tightly folded moneygami shuriken (AKA ninja star).

Officially added to my to-do list: Learn to fold an expert moneygami shuriken so I can impress waiters with my skills, rather than the actual gratuity.

It would be even more satisfying to tackle something more along the lines of artist Won Park of Honolulu, Hawaii. In a recent collaboration with Seattle-based YIU Studio, Park came up with an incredible series of moneygami, at times using international bills for more color than the dull green of American currency.

Origami telephone made from a dollar bill.

Creative paper fish made from currency notes.

Artistic sculptures of apples made from paper with pink hues and green leaves.

Colorful origami pigs of varying sizes arranged in a row.

Owl made of currency perched on a twig.

Origami cows made from dollar bills in various colors.

Origami houses made from banknotes.

Toy race cars in vibrant colors on a light background.

NOTE: Though not part of the YIU collaboration, I had to add this surprisingly animated bear from Park's Deviant Art page:

Dollar bill origami figure resembling a bear.

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