Paper-cuttings are one
of China's most popular forms of visual
art. Paper and scissors are the usual
materials utilized, but sometimes an
engraving knife is used. Paper cuttings
have been a traditional art form that
can be traced back to the 6th century;
it only became apparent a few centuries
after.
This art form has a long history. Its
uses influenced decorative patterns,
leather silhouettes, printed cloths,
embroideries and paintings. Folk paper-cuttings
as an art, imitates nature's forms by
way of making characters, symbols, and
other ways to entail nature out of the
beautiful paper-cutting patterns.
Paper-cuttings are all hand-made. There
are two common practices in making paper-cuttings:
the scissor cutting and knife cutting
techniques. A pair of scissors is used
in the scissor cutting technique. The
artist cuts the motif with sharp, pointed
scissors to shape the desired pattern.
Knife cuttings, on the other hand is
a method where the artist puts several
layers of paper on a relatively soft
foundation consisting of a mixture of
tallow and ashes. After which, the artist
holds a sharp knife vertically cutting
the motif into the paper by following
a pattern. For large size modern style
paper-cuttings, which are usually more
complicated than traditional style,
the knife cutting technique is the main
stream.
In Chinese folk culture, the art of
paper-cuttings occupies a significant
amount of time allotment in various
folk activities. As early as the Southern
Song dynasty, professional paper-cutting
craftsmen have emerged. It was once
a handicraft that every native girl
masters. Paper-cut craftsmanship was
often used to judge good brides-to-be.
Now, we have contemporary artists and
artisans to show you the wonder of the
paper-cut through their artworks in
traditional and modern style.
|