How does wet folding help artists create curved origami forms?

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Red origami crane with outstretched wings and pointed beak, displayed against a solid black background. — origami An origami crane.

Wet folding is a technique invented by Akira Yoshizawa that allows artists to create soft, curved forms in their work.

The process relies on using paper that contains a water-soluble glue, known as sizing. By dampening the paper slightly before folding, the material becomes pliable enough to be shaped into curves. As the paper dries, it hardens, which allows the finished sculpture to retain its curved shape and gain increased durability.1