Traditional paper-cutting meets Qipao

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Paper-cuttings are traditional home decorations during celebrations like weddings and Chinese New Year. Ahead of the holiday season, a paper-cutting artist in east China's Shandong Province is taking a more creative approach, and using it in designs for the traditional Chinese Qipao, known as cheongsam to Westerners, in the auspicious color of red.

Models from Feiyan Model team are busily preparing for another show ahead of the 2018 spring festival, Feb 10, 2018. /CGTN Photo

It is another morning rehearsal ahead of the Chinese New Year... Dressed up in Qipao, along with paper-made cape and accessories, the team of amateur models in Liaocheng City, Shandong Province, take great care to straighten out their outfits... Now it's show time.

"Girls in our modeling team didn't expect to wear clothes made of paper on stage. Paper-cut features this hollowed-out design. By combining this with the traditional Qipao, a favorite of Chinese women, the show wins the hearts of audiences because they can enjoy the delicate nature of the two art forms at the same time," said Xin Ying, team leader of the Feiyan Model Group in Liaocheng City.

The woman behind the show is Liang Ying, a paper-cutting inheritor in Liaocheng.

Liang Ying, 36 year old, is a paper-cutter in the eastern Chinese city of Liaocheng, Shandong Province. /CGTN Photo

She's married paper cutting techniques with Qipao, a traditional one-piece dress that dates back to the 17th century.

It was not until late last year that she had the chance to put the idea into practice.

"During the preparation for this year's Liaocheng intangible cultural heritage Spring Festival gala, the director proposed the idea of infusing the two. I accepted the task without hesitation. Following some in-depth research into fashion designs, I started to make them. My initial works failed because paper-cutting is one thing, but putting them on is another story," said Liang Ying.

For 1,500 years, the art of paper-cutting has been passed down from generation to generation and it is often used for home decor. Using the art form to dress people involves more than a pair of scissors－It involves a huge project that starts with communication, and choosing the right material.

"To realize the design, it took me about three days to make one piece. Since the traditional material used for paper-cutting is easily broken, I had to consider some alternative materials and at last I chose the flock paper. Meanwhile, different areas have their unique style of paper-cutting. So does my city Liaocheng, also known as the 'Phoenix City'. As such, the element of Phoenix could be seen in all my works from the dresses to earrings," said Liang.

For the first time, Liang incorporates paper-cutting techniques into her fashion designs. /CGTN Photos

In the digital era, more and more craftsmen are at risk of fading away. That's why the 36-year-old paper-cutting expert is also a grassroots-level culture official, and feels more determined than ever to preserve the crafts.

"To be honest, it is never an easy job. In 2015, we launched a campaign to look for paper-cutting craftsmen in every village of our city. At that time we were able to reach more than 200 craftsmen, most of whom are seniors. We have benefited a lot from them as we gained more local-style cutting techniques," Liang added.

Another contribution of Liang and her peers is to introduce paper-cutting into local classrooms... enabling students, domestic and overseas, to learn the skill.

“Paper-cutting reminds me of my childhood and it is a very unique Chinese art,” said Usman Abdullahi, a student from Nigeria studying in Liaocheng University.

International students in Liaocheng University show their paper-cutting work learned from Liang Ying, Feb 10, 2017. /CGTN Photo

"Yes, it's a very good and creative way of making designs cause you can cut whatever comes to your mind. There are so many styles you can create with Chinese paper-cuts," said Eric Manzi Nzabamwita, a student from Rwanda studying in Liaocheng University.

By making the intangible heritage more tangible, Liang said she will continue to develop fashion designs with paper-cutting. This could also be an inspiration for other craftsmen who long for a revival.