Cao Zhen

caozhen0806@126.com

IN a bustling alley at Nantou Ancient Town, also known as Nantou City, lies a hidden gem that bewitches passersby who stumble upon it — silhouette artist Liu Qipei’s studio. With swift hands and a piercing gaze, Liu snips so rapidly that it’s hard to see how he’s cutting the paper. In just a few seconds, Liu has turned a simple piece of paper into a vivid silhouette of a child standing before him, a skill honed over a lifetime dedicated to this old craft.

“You get the feature as you see the person,” Liu explained capturing the essence of a person’s appearance with merely a pair of scissors. “Creating accurate and aesthetically pleasing silhouettes in a short time requires the coordination of one’s eyes, hands and brain. As I begin cutting the paper, it goes smoothly without any trimming, a result of decades of practice and unwavering focus,” Liu said.

Tour de force

Growing up in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Liu discovered his passion for paper cutting in his childhood — his father and grandfather usually created paper cutting artworks, paintings and calligraphic works for neighbors in their village. Under his father’s guidance, Liu learned to observe people and discern their unique features. In his solitary moments, he would ponder the appearance of those he met, studying the subtle details that defined them.

“Sichuan people are known for enjoying playing mahjong, but I don’t like it at all. I’m just fascinated about human faces and silhouette cutting. Even now, I often dream about paper cutting while sleeping,” Liu said.

With dedicated time-honed practice, Liu’s repertoire expanded from cutting head silhouettes for neighbors in his childhood to encompass busts, whole bodies, and even groups of people, creating lasting memories for lovers, families and friends in this old craft. He has also mastered the delicate balance between highlighting a person’s most admirable features while artfully avoiding any perceived shortcomings.

Compared to large and sophisticated paper-cutting works, silhouettes may appear simple, but Liu said “the essence of silhouettes lies in the life vitality and emotional resonance that a work imparts to viewers.”

A broader world

After winning a provincial folk art award in Sichuan, Liu ventured to Shenzhen in the 1990s. In this thriving city, teeming with travelers from across the globe, he discovered his calling at Xiangmihu’s recreational venues and later at the renowned Splendid China · China Folk Culture Villages theme park. Word of his extraordinary talent began to spread, and he was frequently invited to showcase his craft abroad and at international events in Shenzhen.

During the 2011 Shenzhen Universiade, he was tasked to produce an album of Shenzhen landmark silhouettes for foreign guests and at the closing ceremony at Window of the World, he was invited to craft silhouettes for international athletes. At the China (Shenzhen) Cultural Industries Fair this June, foreign guests also visited his studio at Nantou Ancient Town. They marveled at Liu’s astonishing silhouettes, which have become a symbol of cultural exchange. Liu cherished these opportunities to share his craft with a global audience.

Preservation

and progress

Silhouette paper cutting has been recognized as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage in Guangdong. Liu believes that the heritage of silhouette art should not remain stagnant but rather progress and evolve with the times. Liu is experimenting with adding ink paintings as backgrounds for his silhouettes to make the final pieces more vivid and layered. By intertwining these two art forms, Liu is giving his silhouettes a context and elevating them to new levels of expression.

To the delight of his growing legion of admirers, he opened his studio in Nantou Ancient Town. Here, visitors can witness him at work and buy their silhouettes.

Liu’s daughter, also a paper cutting artist, often promotes the traditional craft in schools and communities in Shenzhen, ensuring its continuation and preservation for generations to come.

Liu likes the environment around his studio in Nantou Ancient Town, which boasts a 1,700-year history and well-preserved historical sites. He believes that his craft has flourished because Shenzhen, symbolizing openness and innovation, not only appreciates intangible cultural heritage but also offers craftspeople a gateway to a wider world.

“Shenzhen provided me with an expansive stage to showcase silhouette art on an international level,” he said.