Chen Guobin is an employee of the property management company at Linhuan Coal Preparation Plant, part of the Huaibei Mining Group. He began learning paper-cutting at the age of seven, and over the past 50 years, he has remained unwavering in his pursuit of preserving and innovating this art form, aspiring to carry forward and promote the excellence of traditional Chinese culture. In his spare time, Chen has founded the Huaibei Paper-Cutting Art Association and has conducted over 500 free paper-cutting classes in his studio, training more than 2,500 students. To date, he has created over 10,000 paper-cutting artworks. He actively participates in cultural outreach activities, bringing this intangible cultural heritage into communities, schools and enterprises through more than 200 events. His works have been exhibited in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and the National Art Museum of China, featured in media outlets such as "People's Daily Overseas Edition" and "Anhui Daily", and are now part of the collection at the China Paper-Cutting Art Museum. Chen has been honored with titles including "Anhui Provincial Master of Arts and Crafts," "Anhui Provincial Outstanding Folk Culture Inheritor," and "Huaibei Good Samaritan."

Paper-cutting, also known as "window flowers" or "scissor flowers," is a folk art that involves cutting or carving patterns into paper with scissors or engraving knives. It is used to decorate daily life or as part of various folk activities.

Chen's grandmother was renowned in her village as a skilled paper-cutting artist. Each of her works was imbued with deep emotion and heartfelt blessings. Whenever villagers needed paper-cuttings for windows or shoe patterns, she would gladly offer her help. Young Chen Guobin would often sit by her side, his curious eyes sparkling with boundless fascination for the art of paper-cutting.

"The work reflects the artist; paper-cutting demands heart and soul." This was a phrase often repeated by his mother, Shi Jinying, who had inherited her own mother's skill with scissors. After marriage, she would often create patterns, double-happiness characters, and window flowers for neighbors. "Back in the mining community, whenever there was a wedding, people would seek my mother's help with paper-cuttings," Chen Guobin recalled. "Whatever she promised, she would handle with meticulous care and deliver on time, never letting anyone down." Guided by his mother's words and example, Chen quietly resolved to master the craft himself and share the charm of paper-cutting with more people. He was not yet eight years old that year.

Initially, Chen learned the basic techniques of traditional embroidery and paper-cutting from older family members, studying and analyzing works from instructional books. As his skills and horizons expanded, he traveled extensively to seek guidance from renowned painters and paper-cutting artists, journeying through Anhui, Jiangsu, Shanxi, Shanghai, Beijing, and beyond.

"Mr. Guobin's works capture the appearance, carve the form, and reveal the spirit, forming a paper-cutting style and distinctive feature that is natural, fresh, and elegant." This is the evaluation many master paper-cutting artists have of his works.

With nothing more than an engraving knife and a sheet of paper, Chen Guobin's world is both simple and richly profound.

Chen Guobin's paper-cutting artistry excels not only through its technical mastery but also through his unique understanding and perception of the art. He integrates elements from traditional painting, opera and folk art into his works, pouring his "inner reflections" into every cut and carve. Many of his pieces have been collected by institutions like the Chinese Traditional Culture Museum (CTCM) and have been gifted or sold to regions including the United States, Australia, Malaysia, Germany, Hong Kong (China), Macao (China), and Taiwan (China), allowing the world to witness the unique charm of Chinese paper-cutting art.

Chen himself has won over 80 awards in national competitions. In 2017, he was designated as the representative inheritor of the "Chen's Paper-Cutting," a Huaibei municipal-level intangible cultural heritage project.

Chen Guobin is not only willing to teach but has also committed to doing so free of charge. He assures all who come to learn from him, "Anyone who comes to me with genuine sincerity to learn will not be charged any fee. I teach for free."

Leveraging the "Master of Arts and Crafts Studio," tailor-made for him by the Linhuan Coal Preparation Plant of Huaibei Mining Group, Chen teaches paper-cutting techniques. Over the years, he has led by example, traveling across the mining area to voluntarily teach coal miners, primary and secondary school students, and children in welfare centers. He has also offered free paper-cutting classes to Xizang students at Huaibei Vocational and Technical College, conducting over 100 sessions for more than 3,000 participants. To date, he has formally accepted 16 apprentices, two of whom have been recognized as inheritors of the "Chen's Paper-Cutting" intangible cultural heritage and as Masters of Arts and Crafts in Huaibei City.

In October 2024, Chen Guobin accepted a friend's request to create a 5-meter-long paper-cutting scroll within 20 days. Despite suffering from a waist condition at the time, he ultimately decided to proceed against his family's advice, working diligently into the late hours each day. When his friend came to collect the finished piece and saw Chen struggling to stand due to the pain, he couldn't help but express heartfelt admiration.

"To learn paper-cutting, one must first learn to be a good person," Chen often says. He believes that this art reflects the pursuit of truth, kindness, beauty, and sincerity. Only by integrating a beautiful soul with artistic skill can one truly grasp the essence of paper-cutting. On one occasion, learning that the Guangzhou Lions Club was auctioning donated artworks to support underprivileged students, Chen proactively reached out to the organizers and donated dozens of his own works.

Among Chen's paper-cutting creations, red-themed works represent his most beloved and skilled domain. On the eve of National Day in 2024, he guided his students in completing the piece "Hard Work Strengthens the Nation", pouring his deep affection for the country and his reflections on a better life into each vivid artwork. 

A small pair of scissors, hands covered with calluses, and a lifelong bond with intangible cultural heritage—over the past 50 years, Chen Guobin has not only achieved excellence in paper-cutting art but has also embraced cultural transmission as his mission. Through his actions, he has enabled more people to feel the charm and depth of Chinese culture, composing an inspiring story of dedication, integrity, and inheritance.

Source: anhuinews.com