Across Madrid Blog

If you are in Madrid until August 30th and have an hour to spare, drop by the Imprenta Municipal in Concepción Jerónima 15 (behind Plaza de la Provincia, 5 minutes from Plaza Mayor) to visit their temporary exhibition on Origami.  This wonderful exhibition showcases over 250 works of art in paper created by international origami masters such as Pere Olivella, Manuel Sirgo, Florence Girard and other artists from Japan, France, Italy, Spain, the United States, Germany and Vietnam, amongst others.  The exhibition has been organised by the Imprenta Municipal in Madrid and the Origami School in Zaragoza.

The exhibition is open, free of charge, on weekdays from 10:00 to 20:00 and from 10:00 to 14:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.  If you are not familiar with origami, it will open your eyes to the creativity and skill of this particular art form. If you are already an origami fan, you are in for a treat, because the works on display are simply spectacular.

If you are interested in pursuing origami as a hobby or would like to know more about it, you can visit the following shops in Madrid:

Minimum Origami in Blasco de Garay 66 offers origami workshops for children and adults alike.  Manuel Carrasco has plenty of experience teaching this wonderful art on paper to a wide range of students, from architects to  young children.  His workshop hours are between 9:30 to 14:00, and from September he is also open in the afternoons from 17:00 to 21:30.  Contact him for further information on 915446548.  Apart from animal figures, in this shop you can also find original jewelry and hair accessories made with paper.


Gnome by Eric Joisel and Valeriano Salmero, on show at Imprenta Municipal

Palma Papel sells all sorts of beautiful and exquisite types of paper to help you develop your creativity.  Apart from papers imported from Japan, you can find other articles such as diaries, greeting cards, frames, boxes or bookmarks.  Located in Palma 34, in the Malasaña neighbourhood, it opens from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 21:00.

Not too far from Atocha station, you will find La Dominotería, a great shop with plenty of different papers to choose from, brought in from Japan, Nepal, India, Mexico, and other countries, to use in bookbinding, wedding invitations, graphic or practical art, etc.  It is located in Agustín Querol 5, and opens 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:30 to 20:30 from Monday to Friday and from 10:30 to 14:00 on Saturdays.  In July and September, La Dominotería also offers courses on different paper techniques.

For another artform related to paper, there is the fabulous professional bookbinding shop La Eriza in Colón 15. If you would like to preserve your journal, photographs, or any other type of text in a very special and exclusive format, this is your port of call.  This unique, vibrant space is also used as an art gallery, so check it out if you are in the Malasaña area. It is currently closed for holidays but will reopen on 2 September, from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 20:00, Monday to Friday.

Finally, if you are interested in using paper in a totally different way, look at QBOX.  This modular system is made of recycled cardboard and encourages creativity in children and adults, and the possibilities are endless.  You can build your own desk, bench, shelves, displays, toys ... This innovative system can be used in humanitarian emergency situations and it contributes to a sustainanle development. Contact them here for further information.

Across Madrid recommends these shops as an independent company, and there are no commissions whatsoever involved in our recommendations. We simply have been there and loved these shops!

© Almudena Cros, August 2015.  This article may be quoted in editorial contexts only, citing source and author.