Cao Hongxia is a fifth-generation papercutting artist from Yulin in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
\"I often get asked when I started papercutting, and my answer is: 'Maybe when I was in my mom's womb,'\" she joked.
Cao's journey began in her childhood, watching family members create papercuts under the glow of a kerosene lamp. At the age of three, her curiosity led her to tear a piece of a Spring Festival couplet to make a paper flower. Her mother reprimanded her, but she also recognized Cao's budding talent. From then on, she taught her daughter the techniques of papercutting.
Drawing inspiration from the rich culture of northern Shaanxi, Cao incorporates folk songs, local customs, and proverbs into her works. Her pieces beautifully capture the essence of the region.
Cao's art has gained international recognition. In 2014, when Michelle Obama visited Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, Cao created multicolored papercut portraits for the then-U.S. first lady and her family.
Believing that the future of intangible cultural heritage lies in engaging younger generations, Cao emphasizes that papercutting is not just an artistic expression but a cultural legacy. \"To carry forward folk art, we need to integrate it into our families and communities,\" she said.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
