Source: Inner Mongolia News

07-23-2007 15:10

Zhang Huanu  (Photo in 2001 when she was 100 years old)

Zhang Huanu was born in late years during the reign of Guangxu. On June 12, 2004, she died in her home quietly. Although Zhang Huanu was illiterate, she created a large number of excellent paper-cutting works with her outstanding talents and long period of artistic practices. Especially whenshe was 95 years old, her works became more and more attractive, such as the "Marriage of Meng Nationality and Han Nationality", "Shepherd Picture", "Mongolians in City", "Carrying Bridal Sedan Chair", etc. Besides, some of her paper-cuttings have mysterious and whacky feeling, such as "Flood Dragon Eats Fish", "Cock and Toad Defend Snake", "Snake Swirls Cock", "Human Rides Dragon", etc. There works attracted attentions ofrelated experts and scholars.

In July 1998, Zhang Huanu took part in the "Celebration Ceremony for the Founding of Helingeer Paper-Cutting Society" on the invitation and demonstrated her paper-cutting skills at the event. In addition, she also became a member of the society. She was96 years old in that year.

In November 1999, her paper-cutting work "Baby Holds Fish" was awarded Bronze Award of the Chinese Folk Paper-Cutting Exposition. Xinhua News Agency and other media reportedher paper-cutting stories. A number of her paper-cutting works were collected by Sichuan Provincial Museum, evoking great influences in the society.

In February 2001, the "Reunion Night" made by the old granny won the first-class award during the "100-year Development History of China,s Paper-Cutting Art" held at the National Art Museum of China in Beijing.

On April 8, 2004, Zhang Huanu was only Inner Mongolia folk paper-cutting artist whose was the candidate of the exhibition "Going Close to the Mother River -- Daily and ArtisticLifeof Chinese Folk Paper-Cutting Artists" hold atthe National Art Museum of China. The exhibition was organized by China ResearchCenter of Non-material Cultural Heritage and Beijing Office of UNESCO. She is the oldest one among 22 folk paper-cutting artists selected. Seventeen paper-cuttings of ZhangHuanu received high praises from participating experts and scholars.

 

Editor:Chen Ge