Sailing Along the Lifeline

Artist: Mui-Ling Teh
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Sailing Along the Lifeline

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A sailboat folded out of a 6×10mm piece of paper rowing along the lifeline in my palm. Wow I didn’t realize my hand had all these lines :P. I didn’t turn this into a black and white this time because I managed to get a cool light on my hand (natural light) to make it more waterlike.

The flow of life is parrallel to a journey off the land. It begins smooth, then the waves of adulthood brings high tides which we must overcome, However at the end of the ride, everything is smooth again. Ironically the lifeline in my palm depicts this flow; it begins smooth, then there is a big split and begin to ruffle, but towards the end it comes back together again.

This concept was originally generated and uploaded in May 2008, but I bought a tripod later on and re-shot this on September 2, 2009 using the timer on my camera (an Olympus FE-340), and replaced the image alone. Not very different from the one uploaded before except this one is clearer.

For a better idea of scale:

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Works by Category

Origami
Drawings,Paintings and Graphics
Abstract Photography / Guessing Games

Flowers, Trees and Plants
Water and Waterscapes
Scenery/Skyscapes
Light, Shadow, and Reflections
Still Life

Living Creatures
Human Portrait

Japanfluence
Canada
Europe

More sample origami:

‘Serenity’, the Firefly spacecraft (My own design)

Sailing Along the Lifeline belongs to the following groups:

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Sailing Along the Lifeline by Mui-Ling Teh

butchart

very cool…....... it puts a single life in perspective to the vast spectrum of life and universes that surround it….............b
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thanks for the insightful comment b. I wanted to have a narrative for this, but it was so hard to put into words. Hopefully commenters will come by and give me ideas.
Nancy Polanski

Fantastic!! I do not know how you can accomplish this! It’s a truly phenomenal talent!
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thank you Nancy. The sailboat is easier than the crane; as long as I don’t go ridiculously small I guess :P
edlogsdon

6×10 isn’t really small?lol wonderful presentation of your outstanding work.
Mui-Ling Teh replied

lol, thank you my friend. Well what I meant was that typically the sailboat is easier to fold that the crane; however the sailboat has a repetitive process of small overlapping folds, which has to stay in place while being flattened or pulled apart, so when it gets small to a certain point, it is harder to fold than the crane.
Lam Tran

Excellent capture! Excellent focus, great detail that I can see your life line, You will life a wonderful life. Great folding! I really want to see the crane sailing on the boat next my friend! Well done! Excellent series of works!
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Great idea my friend! Hopefully people aren’t tired of my little crane yet :P The summer of 2005 my grandaunt in Japan said I have to watch myself when I turn 40… (This was after finishing first year university; after hearing that I pulled a bunch of all nighters in school she wanted to see my palm) I visited her again after my internship last summer and she said I have a destiny.
paulscar

amazing!
Lori H

wow, this is fantastic!
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Why thank you Lori :)
mieclarke

wow….amazing shot Mui-Ling!
Irene Burdell

This is just amazing , how much smaller can they be ?
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thanks Irene. I first attemted to fold out of a 6×4mm, but to that extent, it was even harder than the crane; usually the sailboat is easier than the crane (if you see my reply to edlogsdon, you may see what I mean). My smallest crane was 6×6mm, so that is smaller than this.
Karin Taylor

incredible Mui-Ling…just incredible
and beautifully executed idea and image
i think you’re onto something wonderful!!
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thank you Karin. I think I’m better presenting as idea through visuals than I am with words. I’m thankful for the comments I get here; sometimes they tell me things I didn’t realize before of just had a hard time putting into words.
DesImages

This photo is a lovely metaphor for our journey through life. It’s a great consept and very well executed.
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thank you DesImages, and you’re absolutely right. I don’t know if you can see it here, but the line on my hand begins smoothly, then it starts getting ruffled up; I think that reflects what I’ve been through. I feel like the ruffled up portion represents the time I began university; seriously. My life line splits somewhere in the middle, but then it starts getting back together towards the end. It’s not as smooth as the beginning , but it is a “recovery”. I do think that is how my life seems to be flowing. The beginning of university was a very drastic period of my life. I feel it will affect me forever, however things are not as bad now as they were then.
Dawnsky2

WOW Mui-Ling, are they getting smaller? you clever thing, well done :O)
Mui-Ling Teh replied

lol, I think it just looks smaller because this time I put it on the palm of my hand instead of my fingers. With the details in my palm being clearer, it does make my origami look smaller eh.
greenpeg

love this and your getting my vote
Mui-Ling Teh replied

THANKS! I actually voted for yours too!
jdmphotography

Fantastic work count me in brilliant ! (-:
Sean Farragher

this is so tiny,fantastic shot
hoboannie

I just love the concept…such imagination!
thickblackoutline

this is amazing!! i can’t believe how small you can fold them!!
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thanks TBO!
Ken Boxsell

A rippled sea on a journey down the lifeline. Great shot Mui and incredible origami.
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thank you for the lovely comment Ken. That’s what I was going for ;)
coffeetea

wooow it is tiny ! Ling. sweet :)) great art work
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Yeah! Hooray for tiny art! Thanks for dropping by coffeetea!
Gail Bridger

You definitely got talent Mui-Ling. Patience is a virtue and you have lots. Your future you hold in the palm of your hand. Great job as always. I have told so many people about your talents, the origami and your drawings! You are a star amongst many, shining bright.
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thanks Gail, your comments always make me smile :)
Tony Ryan

Great image and persepctive. It is amazing to look closely at the lines of our hands. Something I rarely do. We are all so rushed to notice the details in life.
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thank you Tony. Here my hand is a another little world; a different perspective indeed. In this image I was trying to portray a metaphor that life is a journey; not necessarily one where we travel around with a knapsack, but where we go through many stages in our life and all the experieces; good, bad, easy or rough, makes us what we are today. From afar, everyone’s hands look almost alike, but upclose we have our own story.
Kenny Gulley Jr.

ommg its so tiny
Mui-Ling Teh replied

I’m a giant! Hahaha… I’m footsteps away from LA!
ltruskett

Wonderful image.
Lisa Roberts

You are very talented Mui-Ling the origami is amazing and I love the narration too – it’s very true.
Thank you too for your comment on white lioness – it’s much appreciated.
Lisa x
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thank you for your lovely comment Lisa; and your white lioness capture is very pretty; I was lost for words.
RSart

don’t you just need to be really patient to make them so small? i guess anything outstanding takes a lot of patience. this is lovely and poetic.. full of meaning and substance
Mui-Ling Teh replied

It certainly does take patience. Yes anything outstanding does take a lot of patience; You can relate; many of your paintings are very photo-realistic and must require a lot of patience to do them so finely; I love your Early Morning! The soft skin and balloon texture is not one that can be achieved if rushed. Thank you for your comment; very much appreciate it.
PixelProtest

fantastic and beautiful. makes me want to have a go at creating miniature origami.
and it’s a great concept
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thank you :)
RosaCobos

I had not seen th title..
and yet… I was going to say…
“sailing on the hand skin…
waves of the love in pores breathing..
Wonder about the feelings..
of the sensible hands that made it.
Rosa (you are a truly mystic artist…I can feel it..)
Mui-Ling Teh replied

I think you are the mystic artist. Thank you for your wonderful words and favoriting.
aroha

what a wonderful image
Lloyd Harvey

MY Goodness, how on earth did you manage to fold that thing
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Tweezers and pins; same method for all of them ~
Lloyd Harvey

Thats amazing, such intricacy must require immense patience…
amarica

Your origami reminds me of my childhood Mui-Ling. When I was a child, all tiny things stood out in my eyes. I saw those things other people passed by and never noticed. There is such a beautiful world so many people never see.
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thank you Amarica, and I agree. I think everyone is more observant when they are children because they are curious and everything is new to them, but as they grow older they become too busy to notice these beautiful moments.
webbie

So awsome…telling a story with a life story ..great job..:)
hollys1wedding

so cool my daughter is going to love seeing these nice work
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thank you. I take it your daughter is into origami?
frozenfa

suddenly.. i feel like folding papers again.. kekeke… Glompz!!! XD
MuscularTeeth

wow fantastic work ! i love it ! the tactile nature of the art,,,... just so cool.
jomash

Reminds me of Dr Zeus
Mui-Ling Teh replied

I’m not very familiar with him…
jomash

Spelt it wrong sorry.
Horton Hears a Who.
Quantum physics.
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Oh okay! Yeah I looked up “Dr Zeus” and that was a musician and I could not see the connection. I’ve never read “Horton Hears a Who” but looked it up and could see the connection there. Thanks for the comment!
jomash

yes just a big ,small thing….......... lol
ED RIGAUD

Nice. Love your microgami
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thanks! Microgami; love that term, or how about chibigami to keep the language consistant?
Leslie Hagen

You are so talented. God really gifted you.
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thanks again; and thanks for adding me to your watchlist!
Leslie Hagen

No Problem. Your work is great.
MrFordy

WOW! Thats cool.
georgiegirl

Wow!!!! they really are really really tiny creations!!! And perfectly folded too! You are amazing ;D
Nvision Ink

Wow! This is great! I really like the details in your hand. That is one small boat or you have a really big hand…Really great work Mui-Ling!! I know it’s a really small boat…
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thanks Neil! Though kinda funny for you to say I have a big hand seeing your giant eyeball profile pic :P
Nvision Ink

I know I do have a big eye! Helps me see better just one eye though! I really do like these miniature origami’s very original! They look really interesting when you put them in a setting!
Sean Farragher

awesome work its so tiny
PPPhotoArt

wow totally awesome work and i love your narration, it’s so true!!! well done girl!!!
Steven Sandner

Awesome work! this is amazing!!!
nancie

that is incredible!!!!
Sonja Wells

Wow, you have an immense amount of talent! I can’t even do normal sized origami :P
So nicely portrayed too, so fascinating :D
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thank you very much Khaoli; and thanks for the fav :)
Jason D. Lader...

Love the concept of the Boat in the Water, and that it is on your Lifeline Super
The Boat was a work of art, created by your inspiration, your inspirations flow out of and around your life and you are on a wonderful journey, and so is the boat. Significant Imagery Mui-Ling Teh
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thanks for the lovely comment Jason :D. My reply is a bit late because I had a project deadline today; pulled an all nighter last night X___X. I slept after I came back today and now back to work (and bubbling :P)!
IrishPics

AWESOME SHOT Mui….;-)
Alessandro Flo...

Perfect shot:)
TsipiLevin

Amazing! I love the concept
anisja

Perfect !!!!
DesignbySolo

Fantastic, I’m blown away.
Matsumoto

You are such a fantastic talent that it would become a great struggle to prepare words of just how magnificent an artist you truely are. You are simply anazing!!!
Lorena Maria

I love very much this concept, such imagination!! ; ))))
blamo

Incredible
Dayonda

WoW, that one’s really, really tiny! Yet it has people in it! Love it!
jillijude1

stunning… how do you get them sooo small
Mui-Ling Teh replied

Thank you again Jillijude!
Diana Orabi

Wow!! very very creative.. so cool..
Béla Török

What a fabulous work!
BLYTHART

There is a touch of genius about you my friend … I hope you appreciate how clever you really are … Seriously … you are one talented young lady!
Cee Neuner 15 days ago

Just awesome!!! :D

Your cohosts Cee and Chris
rodeorose 7 days ago

Beautiful image!!
Mui-Ling Teh replied 7 days ago

Thank you very much :)
PapasGirl 7 days ago

now I can make them, but in no way have I ever tried to make them this small…with my large family, I use to teach the kids to do this..beautifully done
Bryan Freeman 7 days ago

Wow, awesome. You are one very talented artist.
Mui-Ling Teh replied 7 days ago

Thank you very much Bryan for your lovely comment, fav and adding me to your watchlist :D
vampvamp 7 days ago

geez your work spins me out, it’s so bloody amazing, you talented thing you!!! ;D xo
Mui-Ling Teh replied 7 days ago

‘bloody’ amazing you say? I can see why you are called ‘vampvamp’ ;)
vampvamp 7 days ago

hahahaha! :) it is a compliment!! ;D
Vicki Pelham 7 days ago

Awesome!!!
Mui-Ling Teh replied 7 days ago

Thank you!