Art of papercutting flourishes in Shandong province

One man particularly making a name for himself these days is Li Yuxi – a papercutting master and inheritor of the art in the Hedong district of Linyi city, in East China's Shandong province.

Also known as Jian Zhi in Chinese, it's a traditional folk art that involves cutting intricate designs and patterns that are rendered in paper. It enjoys a long history dating back over a thousand years and is widely regarded as being an essential part of Chinese culture.

Li incorporated his calligraphy skills into his work as he was learning his craft.

It's said that this fusion has given his works a unique and distinctive quality – especially his noted piece Lantingji Xu, which shares the name of a renowned Chinese calligraphy work by Wang Xizhi from the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420).

This celebrated example earned him the Special Gold Award at the first Belt and Road-China Cup Folk Art Competition.

According to Li, mastering the art of papercutting is no easy feat, as it requires precise cutting techniques and a strong foundation in painting.

He also says that expertise in computer design and related technologies can ramp up the creative process and boost the quality of the work in the new area.

To refine his art, Li has proactively participated in various papercutting training sessions, exhibitions and exchanges with other papercutting masters at home and abroad.

Despite being in his late fifties, Li is still passionate about promoting papercutting. He has brought calligraphy and papercutting to schools, where he demonstrates and guides students through the process of creating their own papercuts.

Li also takes part in papercutting exhibitions and intangible cultural heritage-related events hosted by authorities at different levels, in an unwavering commitment to the craft's development. (Edited by Zhou Yunlai)

Li Yuxi introduces the art of papercutting to students in Shandong. [Photo provided by Min Dexia for chinadaily.com.cn]