This is a contemporary greeting card from Japan for the 'Hina-Matsuri' or Peach Blossom Festival. As described in my previous post, Hina dolls traditionally were actual figures displayed on tiers. The Japanese, however, are known for their skill not only in making incredible use of very small spaces but for their use of paper. Origami is an art form that has achieved international fame, but the Japanese have been able to use paper even to create interior walls for houses.
The 'pop-up card' is not exclusively a Japanese form, but it has been used here to create an incredible little Hina display that includes all the traditional members of the Emperor's court and their accoutrements.
I myself love miniature secret worlds and the entire concept of 'pop-up' books and cards is that of a hidden world that can be collapsed into a two-dimensional book or card but which appears in full glory when the book or card is opened.
A crystal ball or a candle flame is a traditional focus for meditation. I do find that a 'pop-up' card or book can be an incredible aid for creative visualisation, another form of meditation. Apart from that, it is a source of great delight. The first moment of surprise, when the card or page is opened, is one of the great pleasures of childhood that still enchants.
In this age of technology, when video and computer games offer a chance to experience other worlds and lives, the 'pop-up' card or book still retains its special magic.
