The application of Chinese folk paper-cutting in wall decorations and wall flowers
The function of folk paper-cutting to decorate the residential environment is mainly reflected in two forms: wall flowers and door stickers. Wall flowers and window flowers are also a folk activity during the Spring Festival. Wall flowers are pasted on the indoor walls, giving people a luxuriant feeling. This kind of pattern is also affixed to the stove, which is called "stove flower". Where there is a kang in the north, wall flowers are often pasted on the inner wall next to the kang, so this kind of wall flower is also called "kang surround flower". Due to the large wall surface and long format, wall flowers are not limited by window panes like window flowers. The art form is also more flexible, and the content of expression is richer and wider. The artistic forms of wallflowers are divided into two categories. One is unit style, which is a single piece. "Northern Shaanxi Style" cut by Gao Fenglian of Yanchuan County, northern Shaanxi, takes up a whole wall. The other type is the multi-complex type, which is composed of multiple patterns. This type of diverse artistic expression is more convenient to use because of its ease of cutting and pasting, so it is widely used. This type of wall flowers can be divided into two types. One is that the artistic images between each piece are incoherent and are combined according to a certain content. Ku Shulan from northern Shaanxi used this form to create many color paper-cuts. Paper-cuts with contents such as the twelve zodiac signs and the Eight Immortals also belong to this form. The other is to combine patterns with different contents and forms according to aesthetic habits and ones own interests and hobbies. This art form allows for more freedom of expression. Since wall decals are large in size, they are more troublesome to stick than window decals. In order to facilitate pasting, the modeling paper lines must be strong and not easily damaged. The modeling paper lines are generally short, wide, and tightly connected. There are few trivial paper lines and shapes, and overly long lines are rarely used. When necessary, Sometimes short lines are used to reinforce the middle according to special needs. Such reinforced short lines cannot hinder the overall beauty of the shape. Folk artists often use this method to reinforce delicate patterns in their embroidery patterns.
The winter leisure time in rural areas is the best time for women to cut wall flowers. The first month of the year is a rare free time after busy work for the New Year. Girls and daughters-in-law visit each other from door to door to watch each others wall flowers and see whose wall flowers are cut well. The girl and daughter-in-law at home are clever and clever. In the past, due to poverty, people stopped celebrating the New Year. After the first lunar month, they carefully took off the wall flowers from the wall and kept them for reuse in the coming year. It is said that some wall flowers can last for many years. OnlyOnly when it was very late did he replace it with red paper.
Wall flowers are less restricted by specific folk customs. As long as they are auspicious, festive, and interesting themes, they can best display the wisdom and skills of skillful hands. They are basically an ornamental type with a certain narrative and lyrical style. . For example, the traditional "mouse marries a girl" has this typical feature. Now some places have absorbed the methods of traditional Chinese painting and framed the wall flowers, or put them in frames and hung them on the wall to make the wall flowers look more beautiful. Jia Jijiao from Shanxi Jinnan created many such lyrical paper-cuts.
Door paper is another form of paper-cut decoration of residential buildings. This paper-cut pattern is also called "flower door" in some areas. Because its content and subject matter are relatively standardized, and its format and specifications are relatively uniform, more door letters are carved by folk artists, who can carve 96 pieces at a time. . The colors of door notes are richer than other functional forms of paper-cutting. In addition to red, there are also pink, yellow, and green. In case of funeral, blue is used, and some use pink and purple. The colors used on door letters become richer as we move closer to Guangdong along the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway. In Foshan and Chaozhou areas of Guangdong, not only various colors are used, but platinum foil and tin foil are also used. After being carved, they are lined with colored paper. This form of artistic expression is called "copper chisel" and "paper lining", which has a magnificent style. This style may be related to peoples business awareness and economic development, as well as peoples psychology of pursuing wealth. When door stamps are used, there are usually at least three in a row, and there are also five. There are single-layer and multi-layer overlapping methods. Some people stick five layers to form an isosceles triangle, giving people a spectacular and gorgeous look. A grand feeling. Because the door sticker is affixed to the outside door (some windows are also affixed), it will be blown by the wind. You can have wide borders on the top and left and right sides of the rectangular door sticker to increase the toughness. There are tassels and fringes on the bottom. , when the wind blows, it sways beautifully. Wide frames, fine lines, and tassels are the main features of the door letter style. Wall flowers and door stationery are both long-distance ornamental items, so they are not suitable for too detailed a style.
