One Sheet, Many Stories: Chinese Papercutting Across Cultures

In this two-hour hands-on workshop, participants will discover the traditional language of Chinese papercutting and explore how this ancient art form can become a personal and contemporary means of expression.

The workshop begins with a brief introduction to the history, cultural significance, and artistic principles of Chinese papercutting. Participants will learn how generations of artists have transformed a single sheet of paper into intricate designs using scissors, creating interconnected lines, patterns, shapes, and symbolic imagery. Traditional motifs, including flowers, birds, butterflies, the moon, trees, and other elements of nature, will be introduced alongside their cultural meanings.

Following a demonstration, participants will practice basic cutting techniques, including lines, shapes, patterns, symmetry, and connected designs. They will then create an original papercut artwork inspired by something meaningful from their own culture, family, faith, relationship with nature, or personal story.

The workshop invites participants to experience papercutting not only as a traditional craft, but also as a universal artistic language. While learning techniques rooted in Chinese tradition, each participant can bring their own story and cultural perspective into their work, creating connections between East and West, folk art and contemporary fine art, and individual experience and shared humanity.

No previous papercutting or art experience is required. All materials and basic tools will be provided.

Participants will leave with an original papercut artwork and a deeper appreciation for the heritage, symbolism, and creative possibilities of Chinese papercutting.

This workshop is part of the Cutting East to West exhibition. Presented in collaboration with members of the Guild of American Papercutters (GAP), Cutting East to West invites visitors to discover the precision, imagination, and cultural stories held within a single sheet of paper.

About the Artist

Lucy P. Liu is a Chinese-American papercutting artist, educator, and curator dedicated to expanding the expressive possibilities of traditional Chinese papercutting through contemporary fine art. Her work bridges cultural heritage, faith, and visual storytelling, transforming the centuries-old folk tradition into multidimensional two- and three-dimensional artworks, public installations, illustrated narratives, and spiritual art that explore themes of beauty, hope, and nature connection. Currently, Lucy serves as Chair of Museum of the Guild of American Papercutters(GAP), helping museums’ exhibitions and on-site workshops and preserve, interpret, and promote papercutting as a living fine art. Through her artistic practice, she seeks to build meaningful dialogue between Eastern and Western artistic traditions while inspiring new appreciation for the enduring power of paper as a medium of fine art. In 2020, she published her first art monograph, Heavenly Grace, featuring 22 faith-inspired papercutting works accompanied by original poetry and an academic essay examining the relationship between papercutting, faith, and spiritual practice. Her work has received national recognition, including an award among 146 artists from nationwide at the 26th Prairie Art Festival in the United States in 2013. A longtime member of the Guild of American Papercutters (GAP), Lucy was invited to deliver the keynote presentation at the 2021 GAP International Conference, highlighting the historical significance of Chinese papercutting in the development of papercutting traditions worldwide. Lucy has exhibited and demonstrated her art at leading cultural institutions, including the Art Institute of Chicago, the Heritage Museum of Asian Art, and the Chinese American Museum of Chicago, while also presenting lectures and workshops at universities, museums, libraries, and schools throughout the United States.