In a studio in Urumqi, Xinjiang, amid the sound of scissors, the traditional auspicious cloud pattern of the Han nationality, the sheep's horn pattern of the Kazak nationality, and the characteristic flowers of the Uygur nationality are orderly combined on red Paper Cuttings, symbiotic and common prosperity. This is the art world of Lin Guifu, the representative inheritor of Paper Cuttings intangible cultural heritage at the municipal level. This Paper Cuttings artist, who came to Xinjiang from Gansu Province, used a pair of scissors as a "pass" to penetrate into the life and artistic traditions of compatriots of all ethnic groups, so that Paper Cuttings, an ancient skill, glows in the frontier with a new luster that gathers people's hearts.

Cultural Walk Under Scissors

Lin Guifu deeply understands that true integration comes from profound understanding and respect. For this reason, he traveled throughout the north and south of Xinjiang to conduct in-depth fieldwork. While walking, he not only observes, but also humbly seeks advice. He once asked the old Uygur artists for advice, understood their music and patterns carefully, and finally created the Paper Cuttings work Twelve Mukam, which showed the essence of Uygur classical music. He found that although the artistic forms of different nationalities are different, the wisdom of symmetry, praying and loving life contained in Paper Cuttings is interlinked. This discovery made him more determined to embark on a creative path that draws on the strengths of others.

The Dialogue between Traditional Patterns and Modern Emotions

In Lin Guifu's hands, Paper Cuttings is not only a reproduction of skills, but also an expression of emotion and innovation. He skillfully used the modern technique of color Paper Cuttings to create the work "Beautiful Melody", which vividly reproduced the vivid scene of Uygur girls weaving Adeles silk or carpets, making the static Paper Cuttings seem to play the music of labor. The Paper Cuttings Hanfu, which he was invited to create for Xinjiang universities, is a model of integration - the shape of the Hanfu is meticulously decorated with symbols of multi-ethnic cultural elements, symbolizing mutual respect and harmonious coexistence of ethnic cultures. Every time he cuts, it is a deep dialogue between traditional patterns and contemporary multicultural emotions.Multi ethnic classroom in the studio

Inheritance is another core of Lin Guifu's Paper Cuttings career. His studio has now become an active multi-ethnic art exchange classroom. Here, students from different nationalities get together to learn the Paper Cuttings technique. The older generation of artists impart the purest traditional techniques and patterns, while young students inject fresh creativity and vitality into this ancient art form. This "old tradition and new creation" mode enables the Paper Cuttings technique to develop continuously in the process of inheritance. Lin Guifu's wish is simple and profound: he hopes to teach more young people, so that Paper Cuttings not only presents the beautiful appearance of all ethnic groups working together, but also makes it a cultural bond connecting each other and uniting people's hearts.

From Gansu to Xinjiang, from personal artistic pursuits to teaching apprentices and passing on their salaries, Lin Guifu's scissors cut far more than just exquisite patterns. He has cut out his genuine love and understanding of multi-ethnic cultures, carved out an innovative path for the revitalization of intangible cultural heritage skills in contemporary times, and even created a vivid picture of the border where people of all ethnic groups interact, exchange, blend, and learn from each other's cultures. This small pair of scissors is participating in the era project of building a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation in its unique way. (This article is from the official website www.seetao.com of Jiandao. Reproduction without permission is prohibited, otherwise it will be prosecuted. Please indicate Jiandao website+original link when reprinting.) Jiandao website inheritance column editor/Yang Beihua