Origami Sauvage

In Origami Sauvage (translation : Wild Origami), the artist and naturalist Jonathan Rebouillat reveals his most iconic creations for the first time. Using a simple sheet of watercolor paper, he folds and sculpts life into a touching bestiary: bear, wolf, crane, swallow, eagle, whale... Each model seems to breathe, suspended between movement and stillness.
 

His approach, both minimalist and poetic, seeks to capture the essence of life rather than imitate it. A few precise folds suggest the presence, posture, or breath of an animal. Each piece stands as a quiet tribute to the beauty and fragility of the natural world.

The book features 60 photographs and 14 watercolor diagrams, true works of art that trace the metamorphosis of paper step by step. The photographs and sketches complete this immersion into a world where action and contemplation become one.

Jonathan Rebouillat discovered origami by chance at the age of 25, during a transformative voyage through the Amazon. Serving as a crewmate on a sailing boat, he stopped in Martinique, where an encounter with an origami enthusiast changed his life. After a year spent living with a Kichwa tribe in Ecuador, he returned to France and met Vietnamese origami master Giang Dinh, whose refined approach deeply inspired him. One evening, while folding a sheet of paper, his first model – a gorilla – suddenly emerged. He understood that origami could become a language between hand, matter, and soul.
 

Since then, his gaze has sharpened. He spends countless hours observing wild animals to draw inspiration for his creations. His work is exhibited in museums, origami conventions, and nature festivals, where he also teaches and shares his art.

The illustrations are by Jean Chevallier, a renowned wildlife artist and illustrator. For nearly forty years, his work has graced numerous books and magazines (Science & Vie Junior, Geo, La Salamandre...), perfectly echoing the poetic spirit of Rebouillat’s folds.