Papercut
Portfolio
Ai Weiwei's Papercut Portfolio is a series of intricate papercuts, including Cats & Dogs, Citizens Investigation, Furniture, Hair Cut, Map Of China, New York, River Crabs, and Zodiac. Produced in 2019, the series combines traditional Chinese papercutting techniques with contemporary themes and personal narratives, reflecting Ai Weiwei’s critical engagement with Chinese cultural history, political commentary, and his own experiences.
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Meaning & Analysis
Ai Weiwei's Papercut Portfolio explores a range of themes, from socio-political commentary to personal history, through the delicate and labour-intensive medium of papercutting, a craft with deep historical roots in Chinese art. Each work in the series is laden with symbolism and often incorporates text and imagery to convey complex stories. For example, Citizens Investigation focuses on the Sichuan earthquake of 2008 and the subsequent efforts by citizens to document the casualties caused by government negligence. Similarly, River Crabs utilises the homophone ‘he xie’ (river crabs) for ‘harmony’, which is often used in China to signify government censorship.
The papercuts are crafted with acute precision, where negative space plays as crucial a role as the cut-out paper itself, creating a dynamic interplay between presence and absence. Map of China and New York merge geographical outlines with personal or historical narratives, showcasing Ai Weiwei's knack for blending personal iconography with broader cultural and political critiques.
