Shanghai Paper Cutting

Shanghai paper-cutting emerged in the early 20th century, originally serving as door decorations, shoe adornments, and embroidery patterns. Over the past century, through historical evolution, Shanghai paper-cutting has developed its own distinctive "Shanghai style."

Wang Zigan, a leading figure in "Shanghai style" paper-cutting, skillfully blended traditional techniques, combining the bold and vigorous qualities of northern paper-cutting with the delicate and fluid characteristics of southern styles. His work, characterized by a strong artistic personality, is both concise and expressive, featuring a wide range of subjects including flowers, birds, fish, insects, animals, landscapes, figures, and architecture. Another prominent artist, Lin Ximing, took a different approach by incorporating various painting elements into paper-cutting. The mutual learning and collaboration between these two artists significantly contributed to the advancement of Shanghai paper-cutting.

Influenced by the city's open and diverse culture, Shanghai paper-cutting evolved into a distinctive "Shanghai style" that merges the best of both northern and southern traditions. This style is bold without being coarse, delicate without being rigid, with a strong emphasis on aesthetic form and a vibrant connection to everyday life. As a result, Shanghai paper-cutting holds a unique and distinguished place in the national paper-cutting landscape.

However, as the urban economy continues to marketize, Shanghai paper-cutting faces challenges from modern industrial civilization and advanced technology. Its survival and growth are at risk, making its preservation and protection an urgent priority.