The Hokusai Pop-up Book is a paper engineering book that features a series of intricate and historically accurate three-dimensional paper models based on the 19th century artist, Katsushika Hokusai's artworks. The book was made with paper engineering techniques to create pop-ups that stand up to intense scrutiny and provide a level of detail usually seen in fine art museum displays.
The book opens with an introduction to Katsushika Hokusai. This section includes a biography of the artist, his most famous works, and a discussion on the influences on his works. It also includes a brief overview of his paper engineering legacy.
Chapter One of the book is “The Great Wave.” The chapter highlights Hokusai’s most famous artwork, “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” It contains a detailed illustrated history of the piece, its meaning, and its influence. This chapter also provides a pop-up of the artwork, a full-color thirty-plus-page fold-out, and step by step instructions for a paper engineering version of the piece.
In Chapter Two, “The Quirky Gathering” readers are taken on a tour of Hokusai’s “100 Famous Views of Edo” series. The chapter explains the scenarios for each of the 100 views, then follows up with a series of pop-ups of these scenes.
Chapter Three, “Surfing the Wind,” celebrates Hokusai’s sumi-e and landscape paintings. The chapter explains the art and its impact, and also provides a pop-up illustration of Hokusai’s famous “Fujiyama in the Sea.”
Chapter Four is “The Super-Cute” which focuses on depictions of animals, such as Hokusai’s famous octopus bride. This chapter offers a full range of animal-themed pop-ups, from teddy bears and cats to snakes and jellyfish. It also provides a tutorial on how to make animal-themed cards with three-dimensional features.
In Chapter Five, “Flights of Fancy,” readers are shown a selection of Hokusai’s imaginative works. These include pop-up images of dragons, birds of paradise, and goddesses. The chapter also includes a tutorial on how to make a 3D hot air balloon.
The final chapter is “The Monumental” which celebrates the work of Hokusai’s successors. It explores the tradition of Japanese paper engineering and offers readers a peek into the world of the Japanese paper crafters. It also provides a tutorial on how to create three-dimensional forms like those seen in Japanese architecture, such as pagodas and temples.
The Hokusai Pop-up Book provides a beautiful and informative tribute to Katsushika Hokusai and his art. Its pop-ups accurately capture the wonders of his masterpieces, and are sure to delight children and adults alike. With its step-by-step paper engineering tutorials, this book can also serve as an inspiring introduction to the craft of paper engineering.
