China News Service, Hefei, December 12 (Xinhua) -- The ancient Huizhou paper-cutting machine crosses the border "out of the circle" and "out of the sea"

China News Service reporter Zhang Qiang

Walking into the Wu Xiaomei paper-cut handicraft experience hall in the ancient city of Huizhou in Shexian County, Anhui Province, all kinds of Huizhou paper-cut works and cultural and creative products are dazzling.

On November 11, the 7 Huangshan First International Art Season and Huizhou Ancient City Intangible Cultural Heritage International Fashion Show was held in She County. The picture shows a foreign model showing the Huizhou paper-cut theme fashion designed by Wu Xiaomei. Photo by Ye Zhicheng

Wu Xiaomei is a master of arts and crafts in Anhui Province and a representative inheritor of Huizhou paper-cutting, an Anhui provincial intangible cultural heritage project. Her paper-cut works with Huizhou characteristics have won awards in various paper-cutting competitions in China, and more than 40 design patents have been granted by the State Intellectual Property Office of China.

Wu Xiaomei said that Huizhou paper-cutting has a long history, different from the window flower paper-cutting in the north, and its themes not only include the traditional Fulu Suxi, flowers, birds, insects and fish, but also include Huizhou's scenery, folk customs and historical figures. Huizhou paper-cutting integrates painting, thorn, carving and cutting, and the expression of yin and yang carving intertwined makes it have a unique artistic charm.

As the "head" of Huizhou paper-cutting, Wu Xiaomei has guarded Huizhou paper-cutting for more than 50 years. In the meantime, Wu Xiaomei not only "resurrected" the once "endangered" Huizhou paper-cutting through online live broadcasts, online stores, offline research tours, exhibitions and intangible cultural heritage into the campus, but also gave Huizhou paper-cutting a new lease of life through cross-border innovation.

In terms of innovation and development, Wu Xiaomei integrates Huizhou paper-cutting into cultural and creative products, which are highly sought after by young people. Among them, the "Peppa Pig" theme window flowers, three-dimensional paper carving lamps, and color-matched paper-cut works are even more popular. Wu Xiaomei said: "We are cooperating with Wuhu Iron Painting to create co-branded cultural and creative products. ”

On November 11, Wu Xiaomei, the representative inheritor of Huizhou paper-cutting, an Anhui provincial intangible cultural heritage project, was showing her color-matched paper-cut works. Photo by Zhang Qiang

Wu Xiaomei believes that Huizhou paper-cutting is inclusive, as long as it is a material that can be hollowed out, it can be combined with it. "We combine Huizhou paper-cutting with photography, Huizhou printmaking, Huizhou carving and other arts, and apply them to various materials, making Huizhou paper-cutting application scenarios more and more extensive."

On November 11, the 7 Huangshan First International Art Season and Huizhou Ancient City Intangible Cultural Heritage International Fashion Show was held in She County. At the event site, Wu Xiaomei used Huizhou paper-cutting as the main technique to design 2023 sets of fashion to show off her elegance.

On November 11, Wu Xiaomei, the representative inheritor of Huizhou paper-cutting, an Anhui provincial intangible cultural heritage project, was displaying her Huizhou paper-cutting-themed fashion works. Photo by Zhang Qiang

Wu Xiaomei introduced that through Huizhou paper-cutting skills, more than 10 Huizhou elements were integrated into clothing design, and Huizhou customs were shown to the public in the form of model catwalks. This move makes the paper-cutting process no longer only rely on decoration to exist, but has practical value.

"I am very relieved to see that foreign models love my works, and cross-border innovation has not been done in vain." Wu Xiaomei said, "Through the presentation at the fashion show, many people have asked me to order the same fashion, and there are foreign models who want to learn Xi paper-cutting skills from me." ”

In fact, Wu Xiaomei has been exploring the international expression of Huizhou paper-cutting. Over the years, Wu Xiaomei has used e-commerce platforms to sell her works to Norway, Canada, Thailand, etc., and some of her works have also been collected by some overseas Chinese chambers of commerce in Southeast Asia; Her paper-cut works on the theme of Hui Opera have been exhibited at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.

At the same time, among Wu Xiaomei's more than 50 apprentices, many are overseas Chinese. Li Yi, the relevant person in charge of the Chinese Culture and Arts Center in Waikato, New Zealand, is one of them.

In July this year, Wu Xiaomei and Li Yi's master and apprentice got together at the 7 "China Root-Seeking Tour" summer camp Shexian Camp. After returning to New Zealand, Li Yi actively learned from Wu Xiaomei through online Xi, and is now able to independently complete some paper-cut works with simple themes.

Li Yi said: "Recently, I often participate in various activities with the peony flower works that Mr. Wu taught me to cut, which are very popular with foreigners and make me feel cultural confidence. In the future, I will promote the art of Chinese paper-cutting in New Zealand, so that more New Zealanders can understand Huizhou paper-cutting. ”

Wu Xiaomei believes that the art of Huizhou paper-cutting can be loved by overseas Chinese and foreign friends because it has the humanistic characteristics of Huizhou. In the future, she will be based on the charm of Huizhou style, continue to protect, inherit, innovate and develop Huizhou paper-cutting in multiple ways and forms, and help Huizhou paper-cutting to reach a larger international stage. (ENDS)