Malaysian self-taught red paper-cutting artist hopes art form will be taught in schools

Teo with a recent red paper-cutting artwork done in conjunction with the Year of the Tiger. Photos: Azman Ghani/The Star

Thin red paper, a pair of scissors and a pencil – that’s all Eten Teo needs to create his Chinese paper-cutting masterpieces.

From portraits to intricate temples, Chinese zodiac animals to landscapes, his artwork is both detailed and intriguing.

The 32-year-old self-taught artist first engaged in Chinese paper-cutting when he made Chinese New Year decorations together with his family back in Tangkak, Johor.

Teo remembers printing Chinese characters on plain paper and then using them as templates to cut the characters out on red paper.

Soon, his interest in the traditional folk art grew and he began to come up with his own designs.

A ‘roaring’ design by Teo to welcome the Year of the Tiger.

Today, Teo is an established Chinese red paper-cutting artist in Malaysia and is often invited to give workshops at public and corporate events.

His most intricate work is entitled “The Malay Wedding”, measuring 62cm x 41cm, and it took Teo two weeks to complete it. His artworks can be viewed on Instagram, Facebook and on his website.

A short history

Known as jian zhi, the art of Chinese paper-cutting is one of the oldest and most popular folk arts in China.

Its exact origin is difficult to confirm but some believe the art form dates as far back as the 2nd century AD when paper was invented by Cai Lun, a court official of the Eastern Han Dynasty, in 105 AD.

Archaeological records, however, indicate that Chinese paper-cutting began later, in the 6th century, and from the 7th to 13th centuries, it became more popular and widespread in China.

A filepic taken in Sept 2020 of primary school students in Luannan County, Hebei Province in China, learning the art of paper-cutting under the guidance of teachers. Photo: 123rf.com

It is also believed that the art form spread to the rest of the world from the 14th century onwards.

During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), Chinese paper-cutting achieved a higher status when it was declared a national art in China.

Traditionally, the cut-outs are made using thin red paper, as red is an auspicious colour associated with good fortune and happy occasions.

The Chinese made intricate designs consisting of Chinese characters, flowers, animals and various other patterns for decoration during special occasions like the Lunar New Year, weddings, birthdays and other festivals.

A Chinese paper-cutting design displayed on a window bearing the meanings of 'happiness' and 'luck' during the Spring Festival. Photo: 123rf.com

As they are popular as window decorations, the cuttings are also referred to as zhuang hua, or “window flowers”.

However, they can adorn walls, doors, pillars, mirrors, lamps or lanterns. Wherever they are placed, the delicate cut-outs always represent good luck, prosperity, happiness, good health or longevity.

During Chinese New Year, the character fu or “blessing” is very popular while for weddings, the character xi or “double happiness” is widely seen.

In 2009, Chinese paper-cutting was included in Unesco’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Chinese paper-cuttings make great decorative pieces during Chinese New Year. Photo: 123rf.com

Preserving an ancient art form

Teo – who holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Graphic Design and Multimedia – said that currently in Malaysia, there is only a handful of Chinese red paper-cutting artists around.

To his knowledge, there is no dedicated society or group that actively preserves the traditional art form.

Teo tries to do his part to share his knowledge whenever he can.

“Many people think it’s complicated and difficult to make the cuttings. But it only involves a pair of scissors and red paper to make it.

“If you want to create a simple flower design, you can make one in three to five minutes!” said Teo, who holds a full-time job in a logistics company.

An auspicious tiger zodiac design.

“You can first draw the design on the back of the red paper and then cut according to the outline using a pair of scissors. For smaller parts, you can use a blade on top of a cutting board,” said Teo, adding that one can also go online to search for step-by-step methods or to download the pattern template.

For patterns with repeated designs, he said it’s all a matter of folding the paper a few more times.

His tips for beginners interested in the art? Practise, practise, practise.

“And don’t be afraid to make one. Many people are worried about making a mistake and destroying the design. If that happens, just stick it back with tape.

“When I first started, my creations were not perfect either,” said Teo. “But when you complete it, there is this great rewarding feeling.”

This ‘double happiness’ ensemble combines dried flowers and plants.

Although red is the most-used colour in the art due to its auspiciousness, one can also use other coloured paper like black or gold.

Hanging in one of his rooms at his home in Kajang, Selangor, where he currently lives, are some framed pieces that combine dried leaves and flowers.

“Normally what we see are red-only patterns and usually, the paper cuttings feature floral designs along the sides. One day, I wondered about the effects of using real flowers instead, at the sides. And that’s how I started experimenting with dried flowers and plants,” said Teo, who enlisted the help of a friend with the plants.

The art of Chinese paper-cutting cultivates patience and is great for family bonding. Photo: 123rf.com

Teo firmly believes that the art of paper-cutting is great for cultivating patience.

“If you do it together with children, you can show them how to transform a plain piece of paper into an artwork. So for young children, it can be a very beneficial activity.

“This art form is not so simple nor is it very complicated. You just need to dedicate the time to doing it,” said Teo.

He hopes that Chinese paper-cutting can be introduced in schools during art classes to show young children how to make simple designs.

“That way, it can instill a love for the art form and hopefully, help to preserve it in the long run,” he said.