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Native arts and handicrafts
Paper-Cutting
 Paper-Cutting
in Shaanxi Province is held in high regard in China and throughout
the world. It is highly praised as "the parent national art
and the living historical fossil of Yellow River Culture".
The UNESCO has listed this art form on the directory of "World
Cultural Heritage". Like many other art forms, the folk art
of paper-cutting roots in definite social like and social environment.
It is usually found along with habits, customs, wedding ceremonies
and happy events. Most of the works reflect emotions and desires,
and an appreciation of beauty. The varieties of paper-cuts are used
decorating windows, Kang (a warmed brick bed), ceilings, lamps,
for the Chinese character "Xi" (double happiness), presents,
dress, and for shoe patterns, funerals and curtains. Methods of
paper-cut are mainly by cutting, carving, dyeing, tearing, interleaving,
jointing, and sticking. The most commonly used methods are cutting
and carving thereby creating rugged, exaggerated and abstract object
with only a small amount of material. Carvings are worked into exquisite
true-life objects. In cave dwellings and civilian houses in the
Northern Shaanxi, or in the town buildings, and village residences
in the central Shaanxi plain, you will always find paper-cut works.
 Peasant
Painting
Peasant painting from Huxian County. A nationwide known folk art
is the farmer's painting from Huxian County which was first recognised
in the 20th century. The farmer painters successively produced hundreds
of paintings, many being exhibited, published or collected by foreign
tourists. These paintings are rich with a local flavour, fresh,
healthy sentimentalism and bring an artistic charm with poetic quality.
They all  express
the feeling of the folk artist. In response to a life full of contradictions,
the artists have developed great creative power to pursue the beauty
of art. Mrs. Pan Xiaoling is one such farmer painter. Her paintings
are highly appreciated and her aesthetic ideas appeal to the masses.
Her art form takes root in the fertile soil of folk culture and
absorbs the quintessence of the area. When appreciating a piece
of her work, one can easily realise the quality which involves not
only folk but also modern art, and possesses the fine and honest
spirit of the Chinese nation.
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