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

  • Image may contain Furniture Tabletop Table Human Person Desk Wood and Plywood
    Heiko Preller
    01

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    Peter Dahmen makes sculptures out of paper.
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    Heiko Preller
    02

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    He makes everything by hand.
  • Image may contain Furniture and Tabletop
    Peter Dahmen
    03

    Pop-up-dice-1500px-RGB

    He began creating paper sculptures in the 1980s, originally as a way to transport his graphic design homework.
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    Peter Dahmen
    04

    Pop-up-Arena-1500px-RGB

    Most of Dahmen's pieces are abstract and architectural.
  • He says the motion of opening a sculpture can be more beautiful than the form itself.
    Peter Dahmen
    05

    Pop-up-Bow-1500px-RGB

    He says the motion of opening a sculpture can be more beautiful than the form itself.
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    Peter Dahmen
    06

    Pop-up-curves-1500px-RGB

    Dahmen says true curves are nearly impossible to create with folding paper.
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    Peter Dahmen
    07

    Pop-up-Flower-1500px-RGB

    Organic-looking pieces like this flower are the most challenging.
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    Peter Dahmen
    08

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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.
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    Peter Dahmen
    09

    Pop-up-Spiral-1500px-RGB

    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.
  • Image may contain Building Architecture Dome Nature and Outdoors
    Peter Dahmen
    10

    Pop-up-tower-1500px-RGB

    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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