Paper-cut given new slice of life in county

Paper-cut patterns are a commonplace item on Shanxi people\'s shopping list in their preparations for Spring Festival. LI HUWEI/FOR CHINA DAILY

If a framed photo doesn't cut it anymore for your bedside table, a Chinese paper-cut portrait might just prove to be a cut above the rest.

China Central Television hostess Dong Qing was amazed when papercut artist Li Min showcased her a Guangling-style paper-cut portrait of her that was as realistic as a photo, during a TV show about North China's Datong city, which administers Guangling county, in 2011.

The work consisted of 10 layers of paper-cut, each layer brought on stage one by one. As the layers stacked upon one another, the portrait gradually came alive－every single eyelash was clearly visible and the nuanced shadows and texture of her clothes were just as real. "This is by far the most amazing paper-cut I have ever laid eyes on," Dong exclaimed upon seeing the finished work.

Guangling layered paper-cut is a modern twist on the 1,500-year-old Chinese paper-cut art. The motif is digitally layered and the pieces of paper carrying the motif are then carved and colored by hand. Multiple pieces of paper produce a three-dimensional effect.

Paper-cuts are used in China for ornamental purposes and are usually pasted over windows, glass doors and mirrors on holidays or special occasions such as weddings. They are among the most popular decorations for Spring Festival.

Originating in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Guangling paper-cutting, a major school of the age-old craft, is known for its exquisite craftsmanship, expressive designs, fine materials and rich color palette.

The motifs vary from flowers, birds, fish and Chinese opera figures to new additions such as individual portraits, famous paintings, local food, historical sites in Shanxi and cultural legacies of Shanxi merchants, one of the prominent merchant groups active in the Ming and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

"It takes 38 individual steps to make a Guangling paper-cut," said Zhang Duotang, an inheritor of the handicraft. "It's a manual process that cannot be replaced by modern machine production."

In 2007, an industrial park for Guangling paper-cut was established as a vehicle to promote traditional culture and increase local income.

Bai Jie contributed to this story.