Nov 24, 2014 6:30 AM

Gallery: Intricate Pop-Up Sculptures Are Tiny Feats of Engineering

Heiko Preller
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Peter Dahmen makes sculptures out of paper.
Heiko Preller
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He makes everything by hand.

Peter Dahmen
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He began creating paper sculptures in the 1980s, originally as a way to transport his graphic design homework.
Peter Dahmen
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Most of Dahmen's pieces are abstract and architectural.

Peter Dahmen
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He says the motion of opening a sculpture can be more beautiful than the form itself.
Peter Dahmen
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Dahmen says true curves are nearly impossible to create with folding paper.

Peter Dahmen
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Organic-looking pieces like this flower are the most challenging.
Peter Dahmen
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Dahmen says he often creates at least a few different variations for each sculpture in order to figure out the best technique to use.

Peter Dahmen
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When he started, Dahmen did everything by hand. Today he'll use Illustrator to get his angles exact and a cutting machine to ensure precision.
Peter Dahmen
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What began as a hobby turned into a major part of Dahmen's career. He now makes pop-up cards and pop-up installations for clients.

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