Paper Can Be So Beautiful – The Art of Kirigami
Quinten Zikun Jin ’21 Email: quintenjin1121@outlook.com The Fessenden School
Content
About the Author
2
Introduction of Chinese Paper-Cut (Kirigami)
3
Gallery
4
Event Highlights
CONTENT
1
01
About the Author
Quinten Zikun Jin • 9th grader for Fall 2020 at Fessenden School, MA.
In the current seven years of experiences in Kirigami including my artworks presents my life in different
• Passionate about paper-cutting (Kirigami) learning from an artist in Beijing since six years old.
formats, such as figures, birds, animals, characters, flowers, trees, insects and landscapes, with the meanings of good fortune and blessings for everything around our community/environment daily.
• My love and enthusiasms as well as creativity towards papers and kirigami have been part of my daily life. My first paper cutting class back in 2013!
Quinten Zikun Jin March 2016 Provincial Level, my individual Kirigami Art Display was successfully held at Huangchenggen primary school in Beijing, China.
May 2018 School Level, second individual Kirigami Art Display was successfully held at Fessenden School in Newton, MA.
August 2019 Hold the third Kirigami Art Display at the Newton Free Library. In order to show paper-cutting skills and the art of Kirigami culture that comes from ancient China
Quinten Zikun Jin Jan 2020 Displayed paper cutting artworks and sold artworks as fundraising for BCAA (Belmont Chinese American Association) Spring Festival Gala.
Feb 2020 Holding "Sweet Heart" paper cutting workshop at Belmont Library, MA.
May 2020 Selected appreciation artwork of "Thank You COVID-19 Social Workers" at Newton Chinese Association and was published on Boston Chinese Media.
02
Introduction of Chinese Paper-Cut (Kirigami)
Chinese Paper -Cut (Kirigami) • 2000 years ago, Chinese invented the first piece of paper in the world. Since then, Chinese paper-cut, a hollow art on paper, has
Kirigami gives a sense of void and visual
gradually become one of the most ancient
enjoyment by using a pair of ordinary scissors
traditional and famous arts in China.
and a piece of paper. The perfect combination of traditional paper-cut and fan is an innovative and interesting attempt to express an artistic image of
• Chinese paper-cut is full of artists’ worships
contours and rhythms of the beauty of the paper-
of nature, life and good wishes. Its visual
cut art. These special art works were made by
language has strong decorativeness and
using scissors, instead of brushes.
finally being inherited in the Chinese nation, finally known as Kirigami.
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Gallery
Hawk • In ancient China, Hawks were recognized as God incarnate, and it was worshipped as god bird. • Hawks were hailed as warlord in ancient Chinese military. • Hawks also represent feelings of freedom, bravery, power and victory.
Phoenix • From ancient time to the present, phoenix is regarded as god bird that symbolizes peace and harmony. • It represents the sacred connotation. That is the reason why the image of phoenix is so popular among Chinese culture.
Dragon • Dragon was associated with the Emperor of China and is a symbol of power, dignity and honor in Chinese traditional culture from long-history dynasty. • Meanwhile is a symbol of luck and success. In China, the symbolic meaning of the dragon goes far beyond the custom. • It affects many aspects of Chinese architectures, sculptures, paintings, calligraphies, literatures, etc., and becomes an inseparable part of Chinese traditional culture.
Qilin (Unicorn) • Qilin means lucky, peace, and longevity in Chinese. • Due to profound cultural connotation of Qilin, it was made into a variety of accessories and ornaments as decorations at home with the intention of blessing and peace from the traditional Chinese folk etiquette.
Pixiu • In ancient China, it was thought that the Pixiu was the beast of luck. • Since ancient times, it has been made into accessories and many people focused extremely on collecting and wearing it as a meaning of luck and getting rid of evil spirits. • Also, decorating the houses as house protection and bringing happiness for marrying couples.
Surplus For Another Year • The pronunciation of fish in Chinese is similar to that of “Yu”, which means “year surplus” in Chinese. • It symbolizes a prosperous life, a wish for a surplus in a year.
Mona Lisa
• One of the most famous oil paintings in the world by Renaissance painter Leonardo Da Vinci.
Eight Horses
• In China, numerical “Eight [8]” is an auspicious number, representing the smooth in career and life. Horses held a high position in ancient China, in addition to be mounts, it has a lot of symbolic meanings and spirits. • Eight horses has the best wishes for a bright future. They are running in the vast and beautiful landscape. The horses have a variety of different styles, either running, jumping, hissing and whistling which make people feel relaxed and happy from the theme.
The Great Wall
• The Great Wall is a symbol of the strength, will and courage. It symbolizes great will and strength of China nation. • In the picture, the Great Wall, looks like a dragon, stretches for tens of thousands of miles. It is solemn and magnificent; which stands for prosperity of the family, the nation, and the country
• The “Silk Road” began in ancient China and coordinated the trade routes of Asia, Africa and Europe.
Silk Road
• The use of ethnic characteristics of the building and caravans of camels on the desert depicts the historical status. This paper-cutting artwork shows the glow of the Western China style.
Lions With A Silk Ball
• Lions With A Silk Ball implies “lions rolling with a silk ball, which means good things are coming”. • Like a bird with two heads and a pair of wings, which implies a couple with a happy family and successful careers.
Peony • Flowers have a prosperous meaning in Chinese history and culture, and the most privileged position among flowers in China is the peony, the country’s national flower. • Peony symbolizes prosperity, happiness and peace. Material wise, it represents wealth and rank.
But ter flies Collection
• Butterfly is the symbol of happiness and love, it can give people to inspire, intoxicated, and yearning
Potted Plants Collection Flowers symbolizes union and harmony, but also heart and love.
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Event Highlights
School newspaper
2016 Kirigami Art Show Huangchenggen primary school in Beijing, China
Event poster
2018 Kirigami Art Show Fe s s e n d e n S c h o o l i n N e w t o n , M A
2019 Art Show / Paper Cut ting Classes Newton Free Library in Newton, MA
2020 Thank You Coronavirus Helpers
I feel how lives are so fragile in front of Coronavirus and how precious the health is. I genuinely appreciate the helpers who stay in the front line to serve a higher purpose for others, so I sent my appreciation to the helpers through unique design to memorize every moment they devoted themselves to make a safer place.
Thank you