Russian-born designer Marat Zalyaev has created an incredibly peculiar, yet amusing paper sculpture named INDIE CAT. The five-meter long paper pet has 36 legs and is built of blocks that enable the sculpture to be grown like a caterpillar, possibly reaching a length of up to 100 meters if wanted. The original 3D digital model took the designer over two months to create and then required over fifty A3-sized paper sheets to bring to life.
You can make the INDIE CAT paper sculpture yourself at home with an easy-to-follow template – and grow your own caterpillar cat sculpture
The peculiar pet can be made at home, as you’ll only need paper, scissors, glue, and some patience to get started. Zalyaez has made the designs of his original models into PDF templates for anyone to download and built their very own, infinitely long cat. Apparently, the original version is a modest 5 meters long, composed of 18 blocks and 36 legs – but for the brave-hearted – the sculpture can be grown endlessly. You just need to print out the template on the paper of your choosing, cut the polygonal parts, fold and glue it together.’ guides the designer. The DIY PDF template is available here.
Apparently, the original version is a modest 5 meters long, composed of 18 blocks and 36 legs – but for the brave-hearted – the sculpture can be grown endlessly.
And while Zalyaev envisioned the INDIE CAT as an art object to be displayed at home, the DIY is also the perfect project as a group activity among paper enthusiasts, creative teenagers, or a grouping activity. Each block could be made of a different paper or in different colors, or maybe even painted or decorated in various ways. The design provides many opportunities and ways to be applied, it’ll all about how creative you want to be!
Follow the designer on Instagram for more INDIE ACT inspiration.
