Preserving an art form one cut at a time

"It was like magic. They could make the paper come to life with just a few cuts."

Yu's initial encounter with this art ignited a lifelong passion within her. Nevertheless, it wasn't until much later in adulthood that she dedicated herself to mastering the craft.

In her youth, Yu spent years apprenticing under older masters in her village, learning the techniques and the cultural stories behind each design.

After mastering her skills, Yu was allowed to create her own patterns, which made her feel satisfied and accomplished.

"Each pattern has a story," she explains. "The dragon symbolizes strength and protection, the peony represents prosperity, and the pomegranate symbolizes fertility. Every cut tells something about our lives, our dreams, and our hopes."

When she got married at 19, Yu made herself a paper-cutting work featuring a lion rolling an embroidered ball with the "double happiness" character, a traditional Chinese symbol used in wedding decorations and celebrations.

"There is a saying: The lion rolls the embroidered ball, and good things are yet to come. I made this work for myself, and it's one of my favorite pieces," Yu recalls, laughing.