Believe it or not, what you are seeing at accurately represented nostalgia classic cameras folded from paper. Yep. Paper. Papers when in the hands of skilled artistic like Seoul-based Lee Jihee can be turned into wonderful masterpieces. Obviously, these camera sculptures may not look like the real deal, but the clever use of bright colors like hot red, tangy orange and turquoise, for examples, helps detract them from the less-than-straight edges. Here’s the concept behind:
“As anyone can take a picture with their mobile phone in this era, they feel the nostalgia for the film camera… Contax, Rolleiflex, and Leica have a large body since they need to contain the film, and also have to be installed to a camera lens. the weighty body and lenses gives the device a huge impression. the classical camera — which is the integration of the optical technology and the industrial design of the time — is colored to give it liveliness.”
Lee’s handiwork include a lively VIDAZ circa 1948 made by Vidmar Camera Co. paired to a Kodak f3.7/105 mm lens, a Leica Illf red dial circa 1952 with Summitar f2/50 mm lens, a 1927 TROPEN ADORO made by Zeiss Ikon Germany matched up with lens borrowed from a Dominar Anastigmat f4.5/135 mm, a SUPER Kodak Six-20 from 1938 with Kodak Anastigmat Special f3.5/100 mm lens, a 1920 Plaubel & Company MAKINA paired to an Anticomar f2.9/100 optic, a Rolleiflex 2.8GX straight out from late 80s featuring Rollei-Werk Franke Germany lens Planar HFT 2.8/80 mm, and a Nippon Kogaku KK Japan’s Nikon FA Gold from 1984 with a Nikkor f1.4/50 mm – just to pick up a few.
I am seriously impressed even these aren’t real cameras, but if you ask me, I’d say manufacturers should take some design cues from Lee’s works. However, Lee’s paper handicraft disciplinary goes beyond cameras. It is wide and varied. It even covers luxury good like watches, handbags, architectures, and even footwear. If you are interested, do hit up Lee Jihee’s website for more of such projects.
Images: Lee Jihee.
H/T: designboom.
