Chinese paper art comes alive in Myanmar’s Yangon

YANGON (Xinhua): With scissors in hand and eyes full of curiosity, students and visitors carefully followed the guidance of Chinese artists, bringing their creations to life at a traditional Chinese paper-cutting exhibition held at the China Cultural Center in Yangon.

The exhibition featured 60 paper-cut artworks by Chinese artists, each piece telling a story with delicate patterns and symmetrical beauty, and the artworks will be on display for two weeks, Cho Cho Myint, principal of Bowen Chinese School, told Xinhua.

“Visitors had the chance to enjoy the artworks and also try making their own, learning how a plain red sheet could be transformed into symbols of luck, joy, and unity,” she said.

According to a Chinese paper-cutting expert at the exhibition, the art has a history of over 1,500 years and was listed by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009.

Paper-cutting is traditionally used during important festivals and celebrations, such as Chinese New Year, weddings, and birthdays, to bring good fortune, she said.

“I believe that through events like this, the bond and friendship between China and Myanmar will grow even stronger,” she added.

Similarly, Li Li Myint, a visitor, highlighted the historical significance of the art. “When we talk about paper, China is the earliest country to use it, so paper-cutting is also one of China’s oldest arts,” she said.

“Even though paper seems like a small thing, it can be transformed into a masterpiece. The artworks are truly impressive, and every visitor is eager to try cutting their own designs. It’s amazing to see this art revealed through paper,” she added.

In addition to paper-cutting, guests also painted colorful Peking Opera masks and crafted Myanmar traditional lanterns, adding a local touch to the cross-cultural celebration.

Students and visitors shared their excitement about the hands-on experience. “I came to this event to observe paper-cutting,” said Kun Mon, 23, a student from Bond Shin Chinese Classroom, smiling as she showed her work.

“It looks simple, but every cut requires patience. We can not only enjoy the artworks but also participate by making our own designs. That’s very interesting,” she said.

Another visitor, Zar Zar, 26, from Yong Sheng (YS) Chinese Language School, expressed her appreciation for seeing the art in person.

“We’ve never seen paper-cutting art firsthand before. We only knew about it from movies. By coming here, we can see traditional Chinese art with our own eyes. It’s really beautiful and intricate,” she said.

For Shwe Zin Win, 23, also from YS Chinese Language School, the event was a celebration of creativity and friendship.

“Our country’s lantern-making and China’s paper-cutting cultures both attract me deeply,” she said. “Paper-cutting is artistic. The way they preserve their culture and share it with us makes me feel grateful and very happy.” – Xinhua