Andrew unearths great journeys through origami assemblage, influenced by his experience as a second generation Canadian. “We are keenly aware of our ‘otherness’, wondering if we truly belong. I fold hundreds of origami birds to honour hardships and sacrifices made by my parents’ generation. As I lay each bird in its place, I realize that the journey continues – I am still finding my way, to be accepted, by others, by myself.” The process is a cathartic, meditative practice. Always striving for perfection, taking joy in the completion of each small task, the culmination of thousands of motions to create something greater than the sum of its parts.
Welcome to the Migration 2021 collection.
Enjoy browsing the pieces, I have been fortunate that most have already found new homes. Please follow the Petroff Gallery as I will be releasing new works through them for the next while. I do have a few select pieces available for sale through me and feel free to inquire about prints as I do make limited edition releases from time to time.
The piece below tells the story of going through life making course corrections and how we impact those around us. I loved using engineering concepts like damped oscillation and harmonic waves to weave this story together (more on Instagram)
The magnificent piece below is housed in a hand crafted acrylic case built by a fellow artist. I focused on the movement to represent the comings and goings within a great city. Where ever we came from, previous generations may have seen this place as their promised land where hopes and dreams for their children could come true.
We don’t always get where want to in a straight line. Universal laws may take us on a journey where we get ever closer to our destination but must suffer periods where it seems we are getting further away from our goal. The design of this piece was inspired by Keplar’s second law of planetary motion.
Hearing stories from my parents, aunts and uncles, I knew that their journey to Canada and the US was not easy. A lot of courage, sweat and dedication went into building their new lives here. We, the second generation are eternally grateful.
This piece is dedicated to those who came over first. They often worked menial jobs while attending or upgrading education and even found ways to prosper while sending money back home. They led, set the example, and helped countless others who came after them.
Want to see more? Here’s a link to the first time I presented this series in my own virtual show.
Purchasing a Piece
All paper used is Chiyogami, screen printed by hand in Japan. The paper is made from a high-quality Kozo fibre. Although the paper is not acid-free, it is pH balanced by the artist with methods used by archival library conservators.
Please use the form below for feedback (much appreciated) or for sales inquiries. Private viewings can be arranged in North Toronto at my home. Several pieces sold very quickly so do not delay to avoid disappointment. If you love a piece and the image, contact me for limited edition framed prints which I release from time to time.