Tove’s journey with paper art started in primary school, when she learned how to fold paper frogs. She was intrigued by the form and structure of origami, and soon developed a lifelong passion for creating beautiful figures and shapes out of paper. Besides making paper flowers in her basement, Tove also works as a cancer cell researcher at St. Olav’s University Hospital.
Origami is a relaxing and rewarding hobby for Tove, who balances a busy career at the hospital with a family life that includes a husband and three children. She enjoys the quietness of origami, which allows her mind to wander, as well as the creativity of crepe paper, which challenges her to experiment with colours and new designs. “Origami is very quiet and allows the brain to drift in other directions, whereas the texture of crepe paper makes it quite noisy, so you are forced to focus solely on what you are working on.”
Since 2013, Tove has been exploring the art of origami, and her work has gained recognition both nationally and internationally. In 2019, she was invited to showcase her art at the Islamic Arts Festival in the United Arab Emirates, where her pieces were displayed at the Sharjah Art Museum. Tove is thrilled by the attention her work has received, but she also wants to maintain the intimacy and privacy of her craft, while meeting the increasing demand from customers.
Nature is one of Tove’s main sources of inspiration, as she admires the different shapes and colours that exist in the natural world. One of her favourite pieces is a 3D creation that depicts the sunset from her home in Trondheim. “We only get this particular sunset with an amazing glowing light for a couple of weeks every year, so I really wanted to capture that.”
Tove’s creative process usually begins with checking her materials. She has to order most of her paper supplies from abroad, as there are not many paper artists in Norway and the local shops have a limited selection. Tove hopes to change that by teaching courses in paper folding art, as well as launching online courses soon.
