• The Creation of Papercut Patterns in One Take
  • The Creation of Papercut Patterns in One Take
  • The Creation of Papercut Patterns in One Take
  • The Creation of Papercut Patterns in One Take
  • The Creation of Papercut Patterns in One Take
  • The Creation of Papercut Patterns in One Take

The Creation of Papercut Patterns in One Take

For an entire hour, her hand never faltered. We watched in awe as theempty spaces on the paper were gradually filled, and a papercut filledwith imagination and vitality unfolded before our eyes.
  • The Creation of Papercut Patterns in One Take
  • The Creation of Papercut Patterns in One Take
  • The Creation of Papercut Patterns in One Take

Description



She took out a large piece ofred paper from the plastic wrap, a thin sheet dyed red on one side. With skillful hands, she folded the paper several times, reducing it to the size of an A4 sheet, then securely fastened the edges with paper clips, Finally, she flipped the red side down, placing the white, uncolored side flat on the table.


Next, she took an ordinary black pen and a ruler from her basket. Using the ruler, she carefully drew a clear border around the edges of the paper. Without hesitation, she began to draw freely on the paper with the black pen.

Her pen lightly touched the paper, first outlining a round head and a graceful face-this was the form of the Butterfly Mother. Smooth lines extended downward, drawing the intricate details of her collar, followed by the flowing skirt, the soft curves of her legs, and the wings ready to take flight.

She continued to add detailed and beautiful lines and patterns to the Butterlly Mother's skirt and wings. On either side of the Butterfly Mother, she skillfully drew two mythical birds. Finally, in the empty space near the Butterfly Mother's legs, she carefully added twelve eggs.

In Shidong, a land steeped in mystery and legend, every Hmong person is familiar with the myth of the Butterfly Mother. In The Ancient Hmong Songs, it is sung: "There is the trunk of the maple tree, and there is the heart of the maple tree. The trunk gave birth to Meibang, and the heart gave birth to Meiliu, the ancient mother of the Hmong." Here, Meibang and Meiliu refer to the Butterfly Mother, revered in the hearts ofthe Hmong people. Aceording to legend, the Butterfly Mother laid twelve magical eggs, from which the ancestors ofthe Hmong people, including Jiangyang, were born.

For an entire hour, her pen scarcely paused. Only after completing most of the work did she occasionally pick up the piece to examine it carefully, as if pondering how to perfect it further. She was using a pen, which meant that every stroke had to be precise and flawless, for once the pen touched the paper, it could not be corrected. When nearly every space had been filled, a stunning papercut brimming with imagination and vitality appeared before us. Witnessing Aunt Ying's entire creative process left us deeply moved.