Michael David has been a professional origamist for 8 years, the only one in
Belgium and one of the few European specialists in traditional Japanese folding.
Trained in Japan, he obtained his instructor's certificate from the NOA, Nippon
Origami Association (from 2015 to 2020). Alongside origami, he works as a
lecturer and trainer on traditional folding and popular Japanese media. He is
also the author of the first French-language origami book to pay tribute to the
famous Studio Ghibli, and continues to provide technical coordination for the
Origanime collection at Paris-based publisher Ynnis.
Le Lotus Rouge, Atelier d'Art, which he manages, is a space for experimentation
and reflection on paper arts. In recent years, this dynamic has tended to
highlight the benefits and potential of traditional folding, mainly Japanese
origami, and more sporadically Chinese Zhezhi, in a variety of settings
including schools, academies, museums and associations, as well as federal
institutions (David is currently the only federal trainer on the didactic uses
of folding, as well as the approach to Japanese literature for professionals).
Traditional origami is one of the oldest popular arts in human history still
practiced in its original form and gestures. This discipline, with over 1500
years of history, offers a comprehensive look at its Japanese cultural roots,
but beyond that, it's a fantastic, playful and rewarding approach to the
creative possibilities of paper.
During Lotus Rouge sessions, participants create models emblematic of the
discipline, its gestures and vocabulary. Traditional folding from the Buddhist
tradition or from the Japanese Edo period, the Golden Age of the discipline,
techniques of folded binding or the possibilities of reinforcing reading by
narration in folds: all these discoveries are accompanied and detailed, in a
spirit of kindness...
All materials are supplied, including a range of papers imported from Japan. No
prerequisites required.
