The development of Yueqing fine-grained paper-cutting in modern times
The 1950s was the period of formation and development of fine-grained paper-cutting in Yueqing. In February 1955, Chen Chaofen, Yu Zhonghan, Yu Zhongcheng, Chen Bangfang, and Yu Zhongyang established the paper team, and later added Zheng Jiaxi, Zheng Fangxing, and Huang Luchen. In the second half of 1955, Zheng Yuancun, Shi Yuanan, Shi Yuyin, Zheng Along, Wang Tongguang, Zheng Yuanxun and others were recruited, and Ke Zhenmin, a famous folk lacquer artist in Yongjia County, was hired to design the artwork.
Early representative works include Chen Chaofens "Octopod Pisces" and "Nine Lions", Yu Zhonghans "Octagonal Mandarin Duck", Lin Bangdongs "Fish Leaping over the Dragon Gate", Huang Baolins "Fishing", Yu Zhongchengs "Fish Flying" "Li", "Goldfish Under the Bamboo" by Zheng Yuanxun, "Riding the Bull" by Chen Bangfang, "Mulan Joins the Army" by Lin Shengrong, etc. In the first half of 1955, with the efforts of many parties, the first Yueqing fine-grained paper "Octagonal Pisces" was born. It was designed by Ke Zhenmin and completed by Chen Chaofen. It is the earliest representative work of fine-grained paper cutting in Yueqing. Its materials come from the folk paper-cut "Squirrel Grape", the fine-grained pattern of dragon boat flower and the picture of Pisces. After design processing, it forms a novel pattern with full and dense patterns, and then through Chen Chaofens meticulous knife carving has become a popular classic. In 1955, Ke Zhenmin designed another piece, "Eight-Ankle Mandarin Duck", which was carved by Yu Zhonghan. The layout of the "Xiao Fang Sheng" pattern on the middle layer shows the most skill. It took Yu Zhonghan three full days to carve more than fifty lines in one Luban inch. This highly dense and fine line is exactly what Yueqing fine lines were. The unique skill of engraving paper.
The 1960s was an important development stage for fine-grained paper engraving in Yueqing. "Nine Lions" created in 1961 is Chen Chaofens representative work and a classic work of Yueqing fine-grained paper. The center of the picture is composed of more than forty fine-grained patterns. The patterns are different. After clever combination, It appears to be both unified and varied, and endlessly interesting. Lin Bangdongs representative work "Fish Leaping over the Dragon Gate" was created in 1963. It has a strong folk flavor. Its patterns are mostly derived from folk daily life patterns, and the style of the work is harmonious and unified. In 1961, Jiang Zunyi, Ni Zhaofeng, Huang Jianping, and Chen Yongmiao formed a design team and participated in the Yueqing fine construction project.The development of patterned paper broke through the initial model in terms of composition, and successively designed products such as "Beijing Ancient Architecture", "Guangzhou Landscape", "Panda", "Fan-shaped Flowers and Birds", "Military and Civilian Fish and Water". The fine-grained paper of this period absorbed the strengths of paper-cuts, woodcuts, Chinese paintings, and New Year pictures from other places. The length of the works also gradually expanded from the original small ones.
The period from the 1970s to the early 1980s was the peak of the development of fine-grained paper in Yueqing. From the original "Octagonal Pisces" and "Nine Lions" to a series of arts and crafts such as the characters in "Dream of Red Mansions" and "One Hundred and Eight Generals of the Water Margin", Yueqing fine-grained paper has continued to enrich its creative themes. Artists began to open up their minds and created more and more diverse themes. Various flowers, animals, characters, landscapes, and buildings became the subjects of Yueqings fine-grained paper. Due to the expansion of subject matter, various themed works have appeared one after another, such as good harvests, dragons and phoenixes, good fortune, good fortune and longevity, more than enough every year, pine and crane longevity, prosperous livestock, etc., all of which reflect the peace of the country and the people, and the prosperity of life. Works of peoples best wishes. Others are based on classical literary works. Nan Shiren, a famous local artist, was hired to design paper-engraved character drawings, such as characters from "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and characters from "Water Margin". In terms of form of expression, Yueqing fine-grained paper also presents a rich and colorful appearance. From the original single form of vertical rectangle of dragon boat flower, it has developed into octagon, hexagon, square, rectangle, rhombus, circle or various geometric combinations, etc. form.
From the 1990s to the 21st century, Yueqings fine-grained paper cuttings gradually faced difficulties. Although many new cutting papers designed by paper cutting artists won praise in domestic paper-cutting competitions and exhibitions, due to changes in the market environment, the sales of the cutting paper declined. It is no longer what it used to be, and many artists have switched to other industries. There are fewer and fewer artists who stick to Yueqings fine-grained paper. The representative works of this period are "Beijing·Olympics" designed by Lu Faliang and engraved by Qian Mei, and "Smooth Sailing" designed by Yu Zhonghui. "Beijing·Olympics" won the gold medal at the 8th China Arts and Crafts Master Works and Arts and Crafts Boutique Expo at the West Lake Expo. This work cleverly combines traditional forms and modern techniques, and expresses sports competitions in the form of paper-cutting. It is very rich. The sense of rhythm contrasts with the delicate traditional pattern in the middle, using a variety of artistic contrast factors to achieve an artistic effect of dynamic and static, density, square and circle ingenious harmony. The work "Smooth Sailing" implies auspiciousness and is meticulously carved. It is very popular in the market. Consumers in some coastal countries such as Japan and Singapore can also understand its main meaning, so it is very popular. The work also won the gold medal at the International Paper-cutting Art Exhibition jointly sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Construction and UNESCO. In 2005, it also won the Zhejiang Province Ethnic Folk Art Resource Census Protection Results and the Zhejiang Province Ethnic Folk Arts and Crafts Expo "Tiangong Award" ". Yueqing fine-grained paper has experienced half a century of ups and downs since it was developed in the 1950s.Many paper engraving artists have devoted their entire lives to paving the way for the development of fine-grained paper engraving in Yueqing. They are the core of Yueqings fine-grained paper engraving. To protect the art of paper engraving, we must first understand and respect these artists.
