Born from the Hand

Mui-Ling Teh

Born from the Hand

I used tweezers to create the last few folds. The paper I folded with was about 15×15mm big.

Basically I present the creator and the creation where the crane is framed by my fingers forming a circle. We can only understand size, fragility and significance when we compare two things. When we think, for example, how big the world is, we’re like tiny little specks of sand, or even atoms, to the eyes of a God holding the earth in his palm.

I did not make this crane and take the picture with the description in my mind; but created it by instinct. It wasn’t easy drawing out my words initially. However many viewers have left very inspiring comments about my work, and for that I am grateful. Thank you.

See my origami calendar

For a better idea of scale:

This work has been featured in:
Masterpiece: Photography
Object Studies & Concepts
Stillness Speaks


Works by Category

Featured/Popular

Origami/Ori-plastic
Drawings,Paintings and Graphics

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

Living Creatures
Human Portrait

Japanfluence
Canada
Italy

More Sample Origami:


Sample Japanfluence works:






More bird art:




More bird shots:


For more images please visit the category links at the top.

Born from the Hand belongs to the following groups:

! # 1 ARTISTS OF REDBUBBLE !, Complex Simplicity of Art, ! 100% !, " Little Things To Make You Smile " , All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Amateur Photographers' Association, Art in Math, Black and White Photography, Cutest of the Cute, Ebony and Ivory, Fine Arts, Freedom to Shine, Hands, Japanfluence, Light In The Darkness, Live, Love, Dream, Masterpiece: Photography, Object Studies & Concepts, Shades of Grey, Simply White Artwork Gallery - 90% White !, Spiritual Art, Still Life Photography, The Birds and Who Needs Color For Beauty? - Black & White Art At Its Best Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
Born from the Hand by Mui-Ling Teh
Born from the Hand by Mui-Ling Teh
  • Karin Taylor

    Karin Taylorcommunity helper

    this is wonderful :)
    i have a painting of sadako i did (in my bubble) called “Sadako’s Wish”
    which was inspired by her story…this crane is a reminder to me of her story
    thank you :)

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    I love that story! In fact my interest in origami grew because of that. My grade 5 teacher read that to our class and that is when I began making small sized cranes, and many other things. Thanks for the comment; I’ll take a look at your painting :)

  • Lys •

    Lys •

    this speaks volumes! the little white crane is so sharp and vulnerable in comparison to the smooth, powerful hand. such beauty and grace in a spectacular combination of black and white, the creator and the creation…just gorgeous.

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thank you for the insightful comment Lys; and in such beautiful words too :)

  • mieclarke

    mieclarke

    wow Mui this is a very creative work…beautiful capture!!

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thanks Mie. It was actually very difficult to get a decent shot of this. Usually it came out blurry because I had a hard time keeping my hand still, and sometimes the crane fell off my hand as I snapped the picture.

  • Jim Phillips

    Jim Phillips

    Amazing!

  • Gaurav Dhup

    Gaurav Dhup

    wow! just wow!

  • RosaCobos

    RosaCobos

    I Would add…
    “To see a World in a grain of Sand.
    A Heaven in a flower.
    See Infinity in the palm of your Hand
    And Eternity in a Hour.”
    (william Balke)
    Cannot say more..
    Spirituality is i the little and simple things.
    Rosa (bautiful work and picture)

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Wow you sure like poetry, you have a lot with your artwork :) Thanks for the comment. I could’ve added more in my description, but I was already pretty sure many people could draw different ideas out of this.

  • Dawnsky2

    Dawnsky2

    Oh blimey thats tiny, you are great work with your fingers Mui, lovely shot of it too , love the grey tone :)

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thanks Dawnsky2. Times like these I’m glad my hands are small.l

  • AnaBanana

    AnaBanana

    Oh wuauuuu this is so cute and great!

  • Matt83artist

    Matt83artist

    Cool! I wish I could do that, your very talented!

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thanks Matt, I couldn’t have done it without the tweezers ;)

  • Pat Lucas

    Pat Lucas

    Oh that is very special. I love it and to think that you MADE it…......wow!!!

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thank you very much Plukie! Actually the bigger challenge was taking the picture :P

  • Jacqueline Baker

    Jacqueline Baker

    Oh you clever thing….multi-gifted!

  • Carlos Teófilo

    Carlos Teófilo

    Fantastic adorable Mui.

  • Lam Tran

    Lam Tran

    Stunning my friend, surprise me, because I make those at work with kids every week. Hope it brings you good lucks and prosperity! Well framing and great lighting and tone.

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thanks my friend; I used to do this with kids too. In high school it was manditory to complete 40hrs of community service in order to graduate, so for some of those hours I assisted a kindergarten teacher back in my elementary school after I finished my exams. On one of those days I did origami with the kids.

  • Heidi Powers

    Heidi Powers

    AMAZING!!!! I can’t even make one when it’s normal size… lol

  • Ellen

    Ellen

    Very beautiful!

  • Jeff Burns

    Jeff Burns

    Beautifully done

  • jdmphotography

    jdmphotography

    Superb work from you here well done love it ! (-:

  • jacqi

    jacqi

    How very delicate that is! It has reminded me of some Japanese girls who stayed for B&B with me years ago and they made these little cranes (nothing like as small and pretty as yours though) as a gift for me. Thank you for bringing back that memory.

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Awww that’s so sweet; thanks for sharing, and thank you for the comment.

  • Tiamaria

    Tiamaria

    Amazing!! Well done!

  • Nvision Ink

    Nvision Ink

    Your hand looks huge…That Looks pretty incredible…Well done!

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    lol, my hand is actually pretty small compared to other people around my age.Thanks for the comment.

  • Marny Barnes

    Marny Barnes

    OMG…now I have seen tiny art…but this takes the whole cake…exquisitely beautiful. Precious work and photography!!

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Looks like I’ve surprised you ;) Thanks for the comment and the favouriting!

  • Marny Barnes

    Marny Barnes

    Surprised me?? Only in the way that I can’t beleive you folded something so tiny…as for your eye for beauty..nope…not a hope that I was surprised. Just look at the detail in your drawings!

  • aspectsoftmk

    aspectsoftmk

    the origami is a great peace of art..and the photo fantastic..i like the set up.

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thank you. I don’t have a photostudio so I had to make the set-up myself. I took a black blazer and layed it over a box; that was my backdrop.

  • RLHall

    RLHall

    How wonderful, amazing origami and photo is beautiful as well!

  • Mar Silva

    Mar Silva

    How delicate. Great image!

  • Geoffrey Wicking

    Geoffrey Wicking

    Crane-Tastic. Love the pic. That crane looks like a challenge to me.

  • Gail Bridger

    Gail Bridger

    You are a very talented girl, you keep surprising me. Very nicely done, Mui-Ling. Keep up the great work. I can see you with your own gallery in the future.

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    we’ll see, if I have the time; who knows whether I’ll end up as an architectect, a graphic artist, or a fine artist. I maybe studying architecture; but that does not necessarily guarantee I’ll end up living as one; I have so many things I want to do!

  • SkyFox

    SkyFox

    Very well-done!

  • Mui-Ling Teh

    Mui-Ling Teh

    Thank you redbubblers for all the comments and favouriting on “Born from the hand”. Despite being only posted two days ago, this work has received the most views and favouritings and comments among my work. Seeing how popular this has become, I have produced another origami piece. Check it out!

  • mingtees

    mingtees

    this is amazing! Both the origami and the photo.

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Nice to see you here mingtees, thank you :)

  • SNAPPYDAVE

    SNAPPYDAVE

    cool

  • Sean Farragher

    Sean Farragher

    that is totally amazing work,great shot

  • purelydecorative

    purelydecorative

    Wonderful! I think it’s all been said above but this really is a delightful image- you’re very clever!

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thank you! This appears to be my most popular piece of work. I’m glad you like it.

  • Ryan Houston

    Ryan Houston

    Very cool…I used to make origami cranes that were connected at the wings, or at the beak…it was fun stuff…

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    They do make nice decoration that way! Thanks for the comment!

  • greenfrog153

    greenfrog153

    This one’s my favourite.

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thanks again!

  • carol brandt

    carol brandt

    Awwwwww so cute! And a great shot to show off the tiny form of the origami crane. He looks so damn cute. Well done :)

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thank you. I hope you also like flowers because I’m folding one now ;).

  • kcranmer

    kcranmer

    I was going to ask you if you used tweezers, wow amazing!

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Since last night I’ve gotten many comments with the “t” word. It’s stuck in my head now; lol.

  • Carolyn Bishop

    Carolyn Bishop

    Your mini origami is awesome! I cannot believe you can fold paper into something so beautiful and so small! And your presentation framed by your hand is also wonderful! You are absolutely amazing!

  • Tony Ryan

    Tony Ryan

    Perspective is an amazingly powerful tool. If we withdraw from some of our most overwhelming feelings and look as a distant observer some of the hardest confusions seem to become easy to understand.

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thank you for the insightful comment Tony. Perspective certainly is an amazingly powerful tool. It is also very amazing how much relativeness changes. We’re so small compared to the earth, but meanwhile many atoms can sit on the tip of a needle which we hold in our fingers.

  • Tatiana R

    Tatiana R

    I love this very much, actually more than other photos, even though they are excellent too. This one tells a story, your hand looks like a little gate, an entry to a different world, it’s just great! I wonder though, if it needs a bit more black around it, like on the other photos in the series. Great patience, you need it with your studies!

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thanks Andromedae. I dunno if you’ve read through the other comments, but I had a much more difficult time taking the photo than making the little crane. I get comments from others praising the size of my origami, and several are good photographers, and I’m thinking “I may know how to fold tiny but you guys can take good pictures”. Well I’m mostly posting up my origami pieces for the sake of showing my folding skills rather than my photography skills.

  • ed wong

    ed wong

    cool~

  • Tatiana R

    Tatiana R

    I know you did a great job! I am not a great photographer, I was just saying, it’s wonderful black and white photo and in MY ONLY opinion, it would have even more impact if it had a bit more black around your hand , like in “bloomed from fingers” for example. You can experiment, that all! Cheers!

  • Matthew Reed

    Matthew Reed

    What an awesome image. I love it!

  • amarica

    amarica

    You are so talented Mui-Ling

  • Antanas

    Antanas

    beautiful capture

  • gemlenz

    gemlenz

    nice piece

  • cherylc1

    cherylc1

    WOW incredible

  • Nasif Hussain

    Nasif Hussain

    wow… thats amazing… love the crane and love the capture….

  • Keeli

    Keeli

    Simply amazing!

  • coffeetea

    coffeetea

    great shot! great soft lighting.

  • Timothy Wong

    Timothy Wong

    Great framing and size! ..the size of ya cranes inforces the notion of how fragile humans are. Aren’t we so powerless in such a big cruel world.
    Same as Karin I too have a series of graphic works about Sadako (in my bubble)- Sadako and the 1000 Cranes.

  • coppertrees

    coppertrees

    Fantastic,simply fantastic

  • krafty

    krafty

    I must admit that your work is very beautiful and intricate…the patience you show is awesome..So delicate and perfect…Love this.x

  • cherokee

    cherokee

    Fantastic,love it

  • Rickyd

    Rickyd

    Wow thats awesome :)

  • Amandalynn Jones

    Amandalynn Jones

    that little crane is impossibly small – well done!

  • elena7

    elena7

    wonderful! great work!

  • aroha

    aroha

    awesome image on so many levels

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thank you! And thanks for the fav =D

  • Matt Halls

    Matt Halls

    Have you considered getting into brain surgery Mui-Ling?! Such amazing, delicate work on something so tiny…excellent origami, photo & story.

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Lol. I understand what you mean; artists do make good surgeons. It’s not for me though; I’d faint just looking into a human body, so I certainly cannot touch inside of one :S

  • amarica

    amarica

    Beautiful creation Mui-Ling

  • Elaine Li

    Elaine Li

    wow these are tiny!

  • webbie

    webbie

    love your cranes, so pretty and such life in the making of them..great shot too:)

  • Nikki Trexel

    Nikki Trexel

    what a beautiful dual creation: the tiny bird and the beautiful art you made here. the interpretation and meaning are striking and very well presented.

  • Alan Findlater

    Alan Findlater

    Really good work well done

  • frozenfa

    frozenfa

    i love making tiny origami myself.. but NEVER can i make one THIS small!! wow!! you’re so awesome, Mui-Ling!! how did you do it? did you use tweezers or something? hehe.. this is so cool.. well done! =D

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    For this one I used tweezers to do the last few folds after the overlaying of paper was getting to thick. My other tiny origami however I pretty much had to used tweezers and pins all the way through since those were smaller. Among my miniature origami, this one is the most basic, due to size and the crane being one of the rudimentary creations. Most of my origami now is folded from 6×6mm paper, though one of the hardest was actually a flower folded from a 15×15mm paper due to the geometry and complexity of the folding.

  • Midori Furze

    Midori Furze

    Hi, Mui-Ling!!
    I love it!!

    I’ve been to the museum in Hiroshima in Japan.
    I saw many paper cranes which Sadako made.
    She made tiny cranes like your photos in many different coloured paper.

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Oh I didn’t know Sadoko made tiny cranes too. Are you refering to the museum that was built in the spot that was hit by the atom bomb? I’ve been there during the summer when I was 8 years old – maybe I could’ve seen it, but it has been a long time… I’d like to see those cranes; I’m very fond of the story of Sadako.

  • Midori Furze

    Midori Furze

    Hi, Mui-Ling!
    I think the war memorial museum is now all new.
    There is a section for Sadako’s story and lots of origami cranes which she actually made were in the glass show cases.
    They are many sizes – small to very tiny ones.

  • Jean M. Laffitau

    Jean M. Laffitau

    Wonderful work!

  • frozenfa

    frozenfa

    awesome.. awesome!! i guessed you had to use tweezers.. it’s like so small.. will be too hard to use just fingers.. great job, Mui-Ling!! =D

  • Steve Chapple

    Steve Chapple

    Just amazing, a true artist!

  • PPPhotoArt

    PPPhotoArt

    absolutely wonderful, you must be soooo patient, gorgeous origami, love the crane!!!

  • steen

    steen

    gorgeous stuff…well done

  • kjezt

    kjezt

    That origami is so great,so tiny and delicate,must take patience to make and the way you use it in your photos is awesome.

  • Elaine Harriott

    Elaine Harriott

    Amazing and beautiful – both your origami and photography!

  • Namueh

    Namueh

    Wow! Amazing and beauiful capture, indeed.

  • Nikki Mulkern

    Nikki Mulkern

    Wow!!! This is brilliant, love the write up too! Your work is just beautiful, all of it!!! =)

  • Donna Teleis

    Donna Teleis

    WOW! amazing work!

  • Serendipity2lip

    Serendipity2lip

    this is beautiful! Thank you for creating it! I love what you wrote as well! very meaningful.

  • kathy s gillentine

    kathy s gillen...

    beautiful work

  • julie anne grattan

    julie anne gr...

    You are so clever

  • JohnThunderbird

    JohnThunderbird

    love all your work, very unique

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thank you very much John, I was enjoying doing these series of miniature origami while I had the time. Now I’m back in school; this term studying in Rome so the things I upload now are photos and drawings I do there. I look forward to the end of the term in december to start doing my origami again.

  • JohnThunderbird

    JohnThunderbird

    perhaps some Roman architecture origami whilst looking out the window

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    my window only looks out to laundry hanging in the lightwell :P

  • JohnThunderbird

    JohnThunderbird

    bummer

  • Mike Paget

    Mike Paget

    Nice fresh concept Mui-Ling

  • Alan Findlater

    Alan Findlater

    excellent work

  • Van Cordle

    Van Cordle

    I just have to say wow!! Mui-Ling you are soo talented!!

  • Paul Scarsella

    Paul Scarsella

    YOU are amazing!!!

  • mikoto

    mikoto

    your are incredible! really!

  • LaRae

    LaRae

    Beautiful work.

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thank you for the comment, fav, and adding me to your watchlist! Unfortunately ever since I started school again in september I haven’t been doing much artwork; I look forward til the end of the semestre to get back into it again!

  • mikequigley

    mikequigley

    gorgeous piece of work mq

  • IrishPics

    IrishPics

    Oh,
    this is absolutely lovely Mui…!

  • Malcolm Chant

    Malcolm Chant

    This is a very artistic shot of such a tiny piece of Paper, love it.

  • rodsfotos

    rodsfotos

    Beautiful work and so original,
    Regards, Rod.

  • Malcolm Chant

    Malcolm Chant

    Your work is excellent, really enjoyed going through your collection.

  • Benjamin Young

    Benjamin Young

    Amazing work…... Wow….

  • PrincessVicki

    PrincessVicki

    Beautiful image Mui-ling! x

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thank you Vicki-lee! Sorry about this late reply; I’ve been very busy the past few weeks; and thanks for the fav!

  • Marion Cullen

    Marion Cullen

    Incredible, such fine work. You must have the patience of a saint!

  • Rebecca Lee

    Rebecca Lee

    This is so powerful! I am a theatre student at a university and next semester I have to direct a 45 min. show for a class I will be taking. I have been thinking about doing the play “A Thousand Cranes” by Kathryn Schultz Miller (it’s about Sadako’s story). This has truly inspired me for my show! Thanks for sharing your creative insights with us! :)

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    I’m glad you found this inspiring, and thanks for the fav :). Wish you the best for your show!

  • Girlsphotos

    Girlsphotos

    Fabulous girl,
    Really nice,
    How are you getting along hon..
    Very nice to meet you here.

    Jay xoxxoxoxoxo

  • Hannah Wilson

    Hannah Wilson

    I remember you from JPG, I think…! I loved this one.

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    I’m not from JPG… Do you have a link to the image from JPG your talking about by any chance? Glad you like this though.

  • Junior Mclean

    Junior Mclean

    wow!!! You got some serious skills!!!

  • amanda Rae

    amanda Rae

    fantastic..

  • Paul Thompson Photography

    Paul Thompson ...

    amazing capture!

  • Nerida13

    Nerida13

    fantastic amazing clever wonderful

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    that’s quite a compliment; thank you :) and thanks for the fav.

  • Euan Thorburn

    Euan Thorburn

    wonderful!!!
    xxx

  • Mugsy

    Mugsy

    Wonderful creativity!

  • anisja

    anisja

    Great B/W ! Beautiful work.

  • grarbaleg

    grarbaleg

    Locky my son 13 years old says awesome

  • Bekyy93

    Bekyy93

    Lovely image!!
    Absoloutly stunning in all its simplicity
    but at the same time very meaningful
    love it
    Congrats on homepage feature!!

  • CapturedByKylie

    CapturedByKylie

    Congratulations on the home page feature APRIL 12th 2009.

  • Nelson Campbell

    Nelson Campbell

    This so beautiful…Congrats!

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thank you very much!

  • Svetlana Sewell

    Svetlana Sewell

    Unbelievable great work!

  • Tenee Attoh

    Tenee Attoh

    Lovely so sweet:))

  • Tatiana R

    Tatiana R

    I recognised that image on the Home Page today, it is so unique! Congratulations Mui-Ling!

  • Karin Taylor

    Karin Taylorcommunity helper

    Congratulations on the up mui-ling
    Such a pleasure to see your work up there!!
    Happy Easter xxx

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thank you Karin! Hope you had a lovely Easter yourself :)

  • pinkyjain

    pinkyjain

    So very lovely, such special beauty, Many Congratz to you Mui-Ling for Being Featured on the Home Page, :O))))))) Happy Easter

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thank you Lisa! I’m so glad you like. Thanks for the fav :D

  • Ellen

    Ellen

    Congrats ,you are on the homepage!!

  • ybandey

    ybandey

    Truly amazing!

  • Christian Zammit

    Christian Zammit

    WELL DONE for featuring on the redbubble homepage.
    your work is really great
    Christian Zammit

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    If not for your bubblemail I would not have seen it for myself, I haven’t been on much lately; and thanks for adding me to your watchlist!

  • MEV Photographs

    MEV Photographs

    Incredible creativity! Congrats on being feature!!

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thank you very much!

  • kimberleigh sarah

    kimberleigh sarah

    This is amazing!!

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Many thanks kimberleigh, for the comment, fav and adding me to your watchlist!

  • shanghaiwu

    shanghaiwu

    BRILLIANT on REDBUBBLE HOMEPAGE

  • Lenka

    Lenka

    Always liked this one (and the other miniatures :)) Congratulations on the homepage!

  • Shoaib .

    Shoaib .

    skillllzzzz

  • Malcolm Chant

    Malcolm Chant

    What a talented young Lady you are, This is excellent.

    Love it.

  • izzybeth

    izzybeth

    I am so happy to be back to this again!!!

  • Mui-Ling Teh replied

    Thank you very much izzybeth!

  • budrfli

    budrfli 21 days ago

    exquisite creaton and creator! love the concept!

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