Folding and costuming techniques

I made attempts at origami to experiment with various folding techniques that may be incorporated in making a costume. The motivation here was to draw attention to the use of basic and cheap materials but with an intensive labor technique, to create an end costume result that was reflection of the time, energy and patience that goes into traditional costuming. Folding is not usually found in Trinidad carnival costuming techniques however I wanted to introduce a new technique to help futher develop the arquitectonic nature that the carnival costume shape and space can create.

"In truth, it was in a spirit of priesthood that Aldrick addressed his work; for, the making of his dragon costume was to him always a new miracle, a new test not only of his skill but of his faith: for though he knew exactly what he had to do, it was only by faith that he could bring alive from these scraps of cloth and tin that dragon, its mouth breathing fire, its tail threshing the ground, its nine chains rattling, that would contain the beauty and threat and terror that was the message he took each year to Port of Spain. It was in this message that he asserted before the world his self. It was through it that he demanded that others see him, recognize his personhood, be warned of his dangerousness.” (35-36)

- 'The Dragon Can't Dance' by Earl Lovelace

Pulling inspiration from the protagonistic character "Aldrick" in Earl Lovelace's book " The Dragon Can't Dance" I would like to place myself in the role of Aldrick the Dragon costume designer and performer and imagine what the process was for him to create the dragon costume from scratch each year. The book describes the dedication and faith he had in the costume making process as being in the spirit of "priesthood". I hope the patience, intricacies and discipline of folding will help to discover this "spirit of priesthood."It should also aid in developing a project that goes through a creative thought process that is stimulating for future projects and encourages the designer to have a greater awareness of the spaces he creates, as he is more in tune due to the focus and patience that folding requires.