PR90429

HAIKOU, China, July 2, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Imagine learning about the history of the development of Hainan Island in an

unusual and fascinating way – through a long scroll of delightful papercut art!

The Hainan International Media Center (HIMC) had invited a group of papercut

artists, including Huang Haitao and Wei Qin, who have won special recognition

from the Hainan Government for their expertise, to jointly create The 100-Year

Road and the Hainan Tide, a 22-meter scroll that presents 21 milestone events

in Hainan's development in the past 100 years since 1921.

Why choose papercut as the medium? Because besides its unique charm, the art is

an intangible cultural heritage of China. It took the group a month to create

the masterpiece in the traditional red and white colors.

"It's the longest papercut work I've ever done and also the most challenging,"

said Huang Haitao, who has nearly 20 years of experience. She described how she

worked on her part of the scroll sitting at a long table in her studio. First,

she had to meticulously outline the design, including clusters of tiny coconut

leaves, on the paper with a cutter, the leaves smaller than her fingernails.

Then she would gently press down each with the tip of her nails and carefully

cut out the shape along the outline, little by little.

On May 28, she roped in several more artists and after careful consideration,

they chose the 21 key events they would depict. They included the Murui

Mountain Revolutionary Base where the cradle of the Hainan Revolution stood

firm and the Red Detachment of Women, a special unit of women guerrillas who

later inspired operas, ballets and even a film. The victory in the Hainan

Island Liberation Campaign in 1950 also features on the scroll.

Events from more recent history include the establishment of Hainan as a

province in 1988, and the subsequent setting up of the Hainan Special Economic

Zone, and the release of the master plan for the Hainan Free Trade Port.

The scroll consists of 18 sheets joined together, each 60 cm to 130 cm long and

68cm wide.

The drawings are the spine of the scroll. Most of the settings include local

plants such as coconut and banyan trees. The architecture depicted reflects the

transformation from the thatched cottages of the Li ethnic community who live

on the island to modern construction symbolized by the Century Bridge.

On June 29, the scroll was finally mounted. "Though the work was extremely

difficult, we did it with the concerted efforts of our team," Huang Haitao

said. "It made me think of the power of the nation working in solidarity to

overcome all difficulties till victory is achieved finally."

Click the link to view the scroll:

https://file590cbb74f209.vrh5.cn/v3/idea/VUV9K3zM?suid=396E5BAE-34F7-49A9-9B37-001D595E72AF&sl=1#suid=ohAJ7weovJ0xS_b5-tTLaLxKLpWo&sl=1

Click the link to view the documentary on making the scroll:

http://www.hicn.cn/system/2021/07/01/032576588.shtml

Source: Hainan International Media Center (HIMC)

Image Attachments Links:

   Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=395239

   Caption: The team unrolled the 22-meter scroll for viewing under the Century Bridge, a

landmark building in provincial capital Haikou. (Photo/HIMC)

   Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=395240

   Caption: Huang Haitao, who led the papercut team, shows the part of the 22-meter scroll

depicting the Boao Forum for Asia conference. (Photo/HIMC)