Wonderful world of paper art unfolds
By Hu Min |
January 1, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
IN most cases, a piece of paper is just a piece of paper. But Zhu Liqun, a local craftsman, has elevated it to high art.
Stepping into the newly opened Zhuliqun Paper Art Museum in the Meilong 439 Fashion Creative Park, visitors will marvel at how paper can be exquisitely transformed into such a wide variety of beautiful and practical items - from art works and toys to sculptures and even furniture.
With nimble hands, ingenious design and admirable innovation, the 60-something Zhu enlivened the 380-square-meter museum with hundreds of fabulous pieces of paper art.
Embarking upon a journey into the museum unfolds a world of paper. Among the exhibits are the four ancient beauties of China, goldfish that symbolize auspiciousness and surplus in Chinese culture, a bit of Disney in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," figures dressed up in traditional Chinese and Western costumes, necklaces, hats, wedding decorations and some abstract art creations.
At the entrance is a large piece entitled "Fortress Besieged," with inspiration drawn from Chinese writer Qian Zhongshu's famous novel of the same name. The work explores the conundrum of marriage: those on the outside wanting in and those on the inside wanting out. The characters and settings for the piece are all in paper.
Another work, "Ruyi," is also very much in the spotlight. Ruyi is a ceremonial scepter in Chinese Buddhism, a talisman in Chinese culture. It signifies the satisfaction of all wishes coming true. Zhu dedicated the work to the 2010 World Expo Shanghai, where it won the award for best art design in a competition of Expo-themed artworks.
As a member of the China Creative Studies Institute, the self-taught Zhu started paper art as a career about 12 years ago. His creative process mainly involves 10 technical skills, such as tearing, cutting, folding, rolling, pasting and shaping.
His inspiration comes from Chinese literature, fairytales, fables and legends, which he deems as "gems of Chinese culture and civilization."
Zhu's creations are not constrained to something that must be viewed to be appreciated. Almost everything on display is made of paper.
Visitors can sit on a paper chair, enjoy a moment of tranquility by browsing some books that have been placed on a paper desk, or turn on a set of paper lights nearby to experience a fascinating convergence of art and illumination.
The furniture is made of corrugated paper, which is environmentally friendly and cost effective, Zhu said. He expects paper furniture will one day be sold commercially.
Zhu's art is rooted in the tradition of paper cuts dating back thousands of years. About 10 years ago by chance, he met Yao Xiaoyan, a child education specialist interested in cultivating art appreciation and creativity in children. The two joined hands in that endeavor, later setting up their privately owned Tongxin Art Institute. They now count thousands of children among their protégés.
Last summer, two groups of students from the Yanji Middle School in Shanghai's Yangpu District and the Leifeng Middle School in Fushun City of Liaoning Province visited the museum to learn more about paper art as part of their summer vacation social experience.
The institute and later the museum put on a paper art exhibit of 200 colorful fish designed by children and inspired by famous Chinese fables.
Zhu has his own ideas about teaching. "I am an assistant rather than a teacher, and I don't tell children how to make or create," he said. "I just encourage them to do it themselves and allow their creativity to come into full play."
He is planning an exhibition entitled "Pearl and Bloom" - featuring about 250 works of his disciples. "The Pearl symbolizes the treasure of childhood creativity, while the bloom signifies that children are the future of our country," he said.
The show will also include some pieces crafted by handicapped children. By hosting the show, Zhu hopes to promote China's splendid cultural history.
Zhu is also busy in local communities, encouraging residents to craft colorful fish designs from paper. When he has collected 10,000 pieces, he said, he will organize another exhibition.
Stepping into the newly opened Zhuliqun Paper Art Museum in the Meilong 439 Fashion Creative Park, visitors will marvel at how paper can be exquisitely transformed into such a wide variety of beautiful and practical items - from art works and toys to sculptures and even furniture.
With nimble hands, ingenious design and admirable innovation, the 60-something Zhu enlivened the 380-square-meter museum with hundreds of fabulous pieces of paper art.
Embarking upon a journey into the museum unfolds a world of paper. Among the exhibits are the four ancient beauties of China, goldfish that symbolize auspiciousness and surplus in Chinese culture, a bit of Disney in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," figures dressed up in traditional Chinese and Western costumes, necklaces, hats, wedding decorations and some abstract art creations.
At the entrance is a large piece entitled "Fortress Besieged," with inspiration drawn from Chinese writer Qian Zhongshu's famous novel of the same name. The work explores the conundrum of marriage: those on the outside wanting in and those on the inside wanting out. The characters and settings for the piece are all in paper.
Another work, "Ruyi," is also very much in the spotlight. Ruyi is a ceremonial scepter in Chinese Buddhism, a talisman in Chinese culture. It signifies the satisfaction of all wishes coming true. Zhu dedicated the work to the 2010 World Expo Shanghai, where it won the award for best art design in a competition of Expo-themed artworks.
As a member of the China Creative Studies Institute, the self-taught Zhu started paper art as a career about 12 years ago. His creative process mainly involves 10 technical skills, such as tearing, cutting, folding, rolling, pasting and shaping.
His inspiration comes from Chinese literature, fairytales, fables and legends, which he deems as "gems of Chinese culture and civilization."
Zhu's creations are not constrained to something that must be viewed to be appreciated. Almost everything on display is made of paper.
Visitors can sit on a paper chair, enjoy a moment of tranquility by browsing some books that have been placed on a paper desk, or turn on a set of paper lights nearby to experience a fascinating convergence of art and illumination.
The furniture is made of corrugated paper, which is environmentally friendly and cost effective, Zhu said. He expects paper furniture will one day be sold commercially.
Zhu's art is rooted in the tradition of paper cuts dating back thousands of years. About 10 years ago by chance, he met Yao Xiaoyan, a child education specialist interested in cultivating art appreciation and creativity in children. The two joined hands in that endeavor, later setting up their privately owned Tongxin Art Institute. They now count thousands of children among their protégés.
Last summer, two groups of students from the Yanji Middle School in Shanghai's Yangpu District and the Leifeng Middle School in Fushun City of Liaoning Province visited the museum to learn more about paper art as part of their summer vacation social experience.
The institute and later the museum put on a paper art exhibit of 200 colorful fish designed by children and inspired by famous Chinese fables.
Zhu has his own ideas about teaching. "I am an assistant rather than a teacher, and I don't tell children how to make or create," he said. "I just encourage them to do it themselves and allow their creativity to come into full play."
He is planning an exhibition entitled "Pearl and Bloom" - featuring about 250 works of his disciples. "The Pearl symbolizes the treasure of childhood creativity, while the bloom signifies that children are the future of our country," he said.
The show will also include some pieces crafted by handicapped children. By hosting the show, Zhu hopes to promote China's splendid cultural history.
Zhu is also busy in local communities, encouraging residents to craft colorful fish designs from paper. When he has collected 10,000 pieces, he said, he will organize another exhibition.
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