Modular origami and ‘disco objects’ (unconventionally shaped objects with reflective finishes) have long been two of my less serious creative hobbies. Every winter since I was a child, I’ve found myself compulsively folding origami paper into Sonobe modules, making 12 to 120 of the same module to assemble into polyhedrons called kusudama. Disco objects emerged from my desire to control and beautify my limited environment at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when I was convalescing from spinal stenosis and reluctantly living with my parents again as an adult. For Compulsion, I brought modular origami and disco objects together into one entity. It should be the ultimate comfort object, but it seems a bit too sharp for that.

Quarantine, week 9: I’m not sure what you call a cuboid with a dip on one side, but that’s what this is. I was aiming for a saddle shape, but fell short.

Quarantine, week 9: disco objects in the papier mache and modeling compound phases.

Quarantine, week 8: Mirror tiles on a strip of tape.

Quarantine, week 8: Flashlight reflections on my ceiling during a preliminary disco object test.