Typical general shapes in Chinese folk paper-cut patterns
British esthetician Clive Bell believes: "Art is a meaningful form...Significant forms are obtained through simplified forms. Without simplification, art cannot exist, because the artist creates It is a 'meaningful form'. Only through simplification can meaningful things be extracted from a large number of meaningless things."
"Happiness Before Your Eyes" Jiaozhou Yan Wenguang
It can be seen that simplification is the reduction of objects after highly concise and refined. It is the extraction of essential characteristics to make them into typical and generalized shapes. Although this shape may not necessarily give people a visual experience that completely reproduces the real picture, it can reflect the image characteristics of the object. For example, in the paper-cut "Joy in Eyes", the image of the magpie in the picture is extremely vivid. The shapes of copper coins and ingots use typical generalization techniques to replace the complicated branches, leaves and flower pots, symbolizing the good wishes of having children and a prosperous life, forming a meaningful form. In "Cat Catching Fish", the shape of the cat is extremely simple. The fur on the cats body has been simply processed, with zigzag patterns appearing repeatedly according to its structure. The fish scales are typical irregular geometric shapes. The form of the picture is balanced, full and bright. It means orderly.
"Cat Catching Fish" Jiaozhou Yan Wenguang
In short, paper-cutting artists use scissors to express their meaningful shapes through simple forms based on their sincere emotions, intuitive feelings and grasp of their images., making it extremely visual and tense.
