Symbolic art promotes the development of Chinese folk paper-cutting
Symbols use specific things to imply a special meaning. In paper-cut creation, people often use things related to the theme and give indirect hints, showing richer connotations than themselves. The symbols of the original form are used in works in the form of simple comparisons, such as using objects in nature to symbolize some supernatural gods to explain the understanding of nature. Symbols in the classical form overcome the roughness of the original symbols. After artistic generalization and refinement, they highlight the subject consciousness and add color to social practice. They are often expressed in the form of allegories. For example, the fox symbolizes cunning, and the lion symbolizes power and might. Symbols of modern significance are based on the high degree of unity of subjectivity and objectivity and the unprecedented strengthening of subjective consciousness. For this reason, authors often deform and exaggerate the symbolic objects to maximize the display of subjective consciousness. Paper-cut art has experienced transformation and evolution from primitive to modern, and symbolism can be said to be a main thread running through it and the driving force for its development.
Why paper-cut works use a lot of symbolic techniques, why this technique can be accepted and widely circulated by the public, and why symbols are the driving force behind the development of paper-cuts. Regarding this proposition, I think we should find the source from the perspective of thinking.
Mr. Pan Lusheng believes: "The allegorical symbolic modeling of folk art has an important relationship with the way of thinking in folk art creation. Its modeling patterns and creative techniques are deeply restricted and guided by this intentional thinking. This way of thinking It is a thinking activity that relies on intention to associate, compare, and deduce." Mr. Pan Lusheng explained that this kind of intentional thinking is closely related to folk art. I think that although paper-cut art developed with the development of society and human beings after the emergence of arts and crafts, However, the emergence of paper-cut art continued the way of thinking that led to the emergence of arts and crafts. From this point of view, the "interpenetration thinking" of Chinas primitive ancestors played a decisive role in the emergence and development of paper-cut art. important impact. For example, in the understanding of colors, people have obtained five "correct colors" from nature through their general understanding of colors in nature, namely black, red, green, white, and yellow.In our understanding of nature, people associate the five colors with the five elements (water, living, wood, metal, and earth), the five directions (north, south, east, west, middle), and the five seasons (winter, summer, spring, autumn, and long summer). ) without sex (wisdom, propriety, benevolence, righteousness, trust), etc., become an overall system that can be compared with each other. This visual cognitive conversion system affects peoples way of thinking and behavioral norms. When arts and crafts develop to a certain stage, political overtones and hierarchical concepts are added to arts and crafts. Especially with the development of modern science and technology, peoples understanding of nature becomes more microscopic. This kind of mutual comparison and interpenetration thinking affects other art categories. The influence has been weakened to a certain extent, but it has been well preserved in folk arts and crafts. Therefore, symbols are a relatively simple and effective means of expression in the interpenetrating thinking system of mutual comparison. Therefore, the use of symbols in the art of paper-cutting patterns is relatively popular. At the same time, due to the limitations of the materials and techniques used in paper-cutting, paper-cutting has led to the There are limitations in expression, so symbolic expression makes up for this shortcoming.
From another level, the development and spread of paper-cutting to this day and the creation of the brilliance of folk art are also due to the ingenuity of folk artists, because they can well solve the limitations of materials and turn disadvantages into advantages, such as folk art. Artists use a single material (paper) and a monotonous expression method (cutting, engraving, and dyeing) to perfectly express the symbolic connotation to express the inner aspirations of the people and spread it widely among the people. Therefore, symbolism is the essence of paper-cutting art. location is also the driving force behind its development.
