Woodcut masters carve out a living in Pu'er

Out-of-print woodcut printing first started in Pu'er city, Yunnan province, in the 1980s and quickly rose in popularity creating a unique cultural heritage for the area.

The difference between out-of-print and standard woodcuts is that the former cannot be duplicated. The art form combines carving and printing to produce multi-colored woodcuts.

Experts say that woodcut prints from Pu'er uniquely convey the many Chinese myths and legends associated with area, through the artists' gouging of the wood and rolling of the paint.

Shang Mingpeng, works at Pu'er Art Gallery, and has been teaching and creating printmaking for 30 years. Shang said that each artist expresses their individual view of life through their works, giving people an insight into their past, present and future.

Shang introduced Pu'er's Breeze Gallery which is home to the works of many popular local artists.

Woodcut master Shang Mingpeng. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Shang Mingpeng's woodcut featuring traders along an ancient path. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]