The Enchanting Art of Paper-cutting 巧藝東西

剪紙藝術起源於中國。製作剪紙，一般只需利用簡單的工具剪刀和刻刀，因此剪紙藝術很快便受到業餘藝術家的歡迎。在中國，每逢春節和婚嫁喜慶的日子，家家戶戶的門窗、牆壁和天花均會貼上剪紙，以增添節日的氣氛。到了十七世紀，剪紙藝術經由印尼、波斯和巴爾幹半島傳到西方。

剪紙是一種運用剪、切、雕、印技術來創作的平面視覺藝術。它的題材廣泛，其中田園景致和生活主題，如牧羊和牛、農耕、植物、果實、鳥獸等，都是中西方藝術家主要的創作題材，而富有中國特色的題材則有吉祥圖案、傳奇故事和戲曲人物。

時移世易，中國和西方的現代剪紙已由傳統的民間藝術發展成一種獨特藝術表現形式。藝術家運用各種嶄新的剪紙技術，結合傳統與現代，探求新的藝術表現手法。

本書展出多位佚名及十位廣東佛山藝術家的四十五幅剪紙，以及由十五位當代瑞士藝術家創作的五十五幅作品。這些中國剪紙的創作年代大致可分為三個時期：清末至民國初期，文化大革命及現代；至於瑞士的剪紙則全由當代藝術家創作。作品除了表現出獨特的地方色彩外，還同時展示了東西方在剪紙藝術上的成就。

The art of paper-cutting originated in China. Its easy mastery requiring only simple tools such as scissors or cutters made it a popular craft among amateur artists. Paper-cuts were produced to decorate windows, walls, ceilings and doors during the Chinese New Year and for wedding ceremonies to enhance the festive atmosphere. The art of paper-cutting was transmitted to the West via Indonesia, Persia and the Balkans during the seventeenth century.

Paper-cuts are principally two-dimensional visual representations made using scissor-cutting, carving, chiselling and printing, covering a wide variety of themes. The major subject matter of both Eastern and Western are countryside scenes: herding sheep and cattle, working in the fields, as well as plants, fruits, birds and animals in nature. Chinese paper-cuts also include other themes such as auspicious subjects, legends and operatic characters.

Nowadays the art of paper-cutting has evolved from traditional folk art into an art form in its own right. By developing the art of paper-cutting in new directions, Swiss and Chinese artists have introduced cutting techniques to achieve new forms of artistic expression, combining tradition and modernity.

This catalogue features 45 paper-cuts by anonymous artists and ten contemporary Chinese artists from Foshan, Guangdong province, and 55 recent paper-cuts by fifteen contemporary Swiss artists. The Chinese exhibits can be divided into three categories dating to the late Qing/early Republican period, the Cultural Revolution and Modern period. The Swiss paper-cuts, on the other hand, are all recent works by contemporary artists. These exhibits not only express strong local characteristics but also demonstrate the artistic achievements of paper-cutting in both the East and West.