About the "Frozen" of a city

Gao Youliang (right) displays the paper-cut works of Weixian County on the theme of the Winter Olympics. Courtesy of Gao Liangliang

Zodiac dolls pedaling skis in the snow, ice and snow athletes in ski suits taking off, flipping and jumping... The theme exhibition of "Colorful Intangible Cultural Heritage Passionate Winter Olympics" sponsored by the Provincial Group Art Museum (Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Center) is being held online, and many groups of Weixian paper-cut works attract the attention of the audience. The reporter learned that these exquisite works are from the hands of Gao Youliang, a provincial-level non-hereditary heir of Weixian paper-cutting.

Ulsan paper-cutting is a traditional folk art with a unique style and a reputation at home and abroad. As the only paper-cutting process in mainland China that focuses on yin carving and supplemented by yang carving, in 2006, Weixian paper-cutting was selected into the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list, and in 2009, it was selected into the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Nowadays, Weixian paper-cutting shows the excitement of winter sports through many well-conceived and well-made Winter Olympic works, and once again allows the world to appreciate the moving charm of Chinese culture.

"Don't look at a paper-cut work in every inch, but it can present the world and reflect our feelings for the Winter Olympics." It is my wish to use the paper-cutting skills of my hometown to cheer and bless the Beijing Winter Olympics and tell the Olympic complex of Chinese. Gao Tongliang said. "Frozen", "Passion Winter Olympics", "Zodiac Winter Olympics", "Ice and Snow Olympics", "Cow Baby", "Ice Ribbon", "Snow Ruyi"... In recent years, Gao Has created more than 200 works on the theme of the Winter Olympics. In order to fully express the athletes' healthy posture and brave fighting spirit during the competition, he walked into the ski resort of Chongli many times to observe the style, look up information, and collect materials. In the process of creation, often a work is easy to draw, repeatedly engraved, and strive to perfectly integrate the paper-cutting of WeiXian with the Winter Olympics.

Among these paper-cut works, the most eye-catching is a set of "Cow Baby" series of works. Each piece is inlaid in a wooden frame with a side length of 28 centimeters, and the three cute "cow babies" are engraved with the words "gold", "silver" and "copper" on the chest. This set of works was given as a gift to athletes at home and abroad at the Beijing Winter Sports Series Test Event held in February 2021. Gao Tongliang said that he hopes to use folk traditional skills to show the world our cultural self-confidence and confidence in the future.

Gao Tongliang has a deep relationship with the Olympic Games, he was a volunteer for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and has been working on the winter Olympics paper-cutting since 2013. For Gao Tongliang and even Zhangjiakou and Hebei people, the Winter Olympics is not only an opportunity, but also a strong and fiery emotion. Prince Edward Ruins Park, Snow Ruyi, Great Wall National Cultural Park (Chongli section)... His works record the great changes that have taken place in Zhangjiakou due to the Winter Olympics, hoping to let more people feel the great energy of the Winter Olympics from the paper-cut works.

Like Gao Youliang, many Weixian paper-cutting artists have also used this unique "language" to express their praise for the Winter Olympics. Zhou Liwei, the fourth generation inheritor of Weixian paper-cutting, combines the shapes of Zhangjiakou's landmark Dajing Gate and beijing's Temple of Heaven Prayer Hall, adding winter Olympic elements and butterfly and snowflake patterns, reflecting the Olympic spirit and the beauty of traditional Chinese art. Liu Haibin, the non-hereditary heir of Weixian Paper-cutting Province, combines the traditional Weixian paper-cut animal image with crystal clear snowflakes and ski characters, highlighting the expression of the times of traditional aesthetics.

Today, the enthusiasm of the Winter Olympics is constantly emerging in ordinary people, who sincerely add color to the times in their own ways. As Gao Tongliang said: "Following the successful hosting of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, China once again ushered in the 2022 Winter Olympics, which made us always feel the prosperity and strength of the motherland." This sports event is held in my hometown, and I am honored and proud to be able to use intangible cultural heritage to help the Winter Olympics. ”

【Source: Hebei Daily】

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