Ancient handicraft exudes new vitality

In Juye county – in Heze city, in East China's Shandong province – 75-year-old Tian Yanke is reviving the ancient art of paper cutting in a particularly exciting and evocative way.

Tian, an inheritor of the folk art, has combined traditional techniques with modern cultural and technological elements to create a very special and vibrant style.

Paper cutting is a traditional Chinese handicraft that dates back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). It is known for its evocative style, focusing on creativity and the fusion with local culture.

Typically used for festive occasions such as traditional festivals, weddings and birthdays, paper cuttings often depict beautiful themes – such as flowers, plants, animals and people – symbolizing festivity, good luck and beauty.

An example of Tian Yanke's exquisite paper cutting, called huā kāi fù guì – a Chinese phrase used to wish for wealth and prosperity. [Photo by Xiao Shouxiang for chinadaily.com.cn]

Through constant exploration, Tian has incorporated various techniques – such as cutting, carving, tearing, color blocking, lining, dyeing and outlines – into his paper-cuttings.

By utilizing these clever methods, Tian is said to have expanded the expressive power and visual tension of the art form.

The combination of lines and paintings, along with the use of virtual and vivid elements, is viewed to have given his paper cuttings a particularly appealing artistic style. (Edited by Jin Yongxue)