Malay homemaker masters the art of Chinese paper-cutting

A recent piece by Nina to welcome the Year of the Rat. Photos: The Star/Sheela Chandran

Homemaker Nina Abdullah can’t read, write or converse in Mandarin. But she knows a thing or two about the intricate art of jianzhi or Chinese paper-cutting.

“Paper-cutting may seem simple but the art of Chinese paper-cutting requires perseverance. It is more than using a pair of scissors and a scalpel to cut designs on red paper. One needs skill, patience and a good imagination to create these art pieces, ” explains Nina, 55, from Subang Jaya, Selangor.