Huangyan Paper-Cutting Showcases in Europe

Shen Lei, Deputy Director of China Culture Promotion Association's Paper-Cutting Committee, led over 20 intangible cultural heritage (ICH) inheritors from five Chinese provinces to Europe with 40+ artworks. Their Paris-Switzerland tour featured Huangyan paper-cutting as a focal point of cultural exchange.

In Paris, artists participated in a Seine-side cultural market before launching an exhibition at NEOMA Confucius Institute for Business-Paris Center. Shen Lei presented Dragon Boat Race on the Seine (depicting crews near the Eiffel Tower) to the Sino-French Dragon Boat Association, while Huangyan inheritor Shen Yang showcased Tangerine Harvest Rush reflecting local agriculture. A black paper-cut of Peking Opera's The Crossroads particularly captivated audiences with its dramatic tension.

Live demonstrations included Shen Yang creating personalized silhouettes for guests. In Switzerland, the delegation visited the Swiss Paper-Cutting Center (Musée du Pays-d'Enhaut), where Shen Lei explained China's regional paper-cutting styles through academic interpretation. The exchange peaked during a joint creation session, with Chinese and Swiss artists producing collaborative works using traditional techniques.

This tour established new cultural bridges, with Huangyan paper-cutting serving as a dynamic ambassador of China's ICH heritage. From Parisian exhibitions to Swiss museum dialogues, the art form demonstrated its capacity to transcend cultural boundaries and foster international artistic dialogue.