Telling Hainan's history for 100 years with 22 meters of heritage

HAIKOU,China,July 2,2021 -- Imagine learning about the history of the development of Hainan Island in an unusual and fascinating way – through a long scroll of delightful papercut art! The Hainan International Media Center (HIMC) had invited a group of papercut artists,including Huang Haitao and Wei Qin,who have won special recognition from the Hainan Government for their expertise,to jointly create The 100-Year Road and the Hainan Tide,a 22-meter scroll that presents 21 milestone events in Hainan's developmentin the past 100 years since 1921.

The team unrolled the 22-meter scroll for viewing under the Century Bridge,a landmark building in provincial capital Haikou. (Photo/HIMC)

Why choose papercut as the medium? Because besides its unique charm,the art is an intangible cultural heritage of China. It took the group a month to create the masterpiece in the traditional red and white colors.

"It's the longest papercut work I've ever done and also the most challenging," said Huang Haitao,who has nearly 20 years of experience. She described how she worked on her part of the scroll sitting at a long table in her studio. First,she had to meticulously outline the design,including clusters of tiny coconut leaves,on the paper with a cutter,the leaves smaller than her fingernails. Then she would gently press down each with the tip of her nails and carefully cut out the shape along the outline,little by little.

Huang Haitao,who led the papercut team,shows the part of the 22-meter scroll depicting the Boao Forum for Asia conference. (Photo/HIMC)

On May 28,she roped in several more artists and after careful consideration,they chose the 21 key events they would depict. They included theMuruiMountainRevolutionary Base where the cradle of the Hainan Revolution stood firmand the Red Detachment of Women,a special unit of women guerrillas who later inspired operas,ballets and even a film. The victory in the Hainan Island Liberation Campaign in 1950also featureson the scroll.

Events from more recent history include the establishment of Hainan as a province in 1988,and the subsequent setting up of the Hainan Special Economic Zone,and the release of the master plan forthe Hainan Free Trade Port.

The scroll consists of 18 sheets joined together,each 60 cm to 130 cm long and 68cm wide.

The drawings are the spine of the scroll.Most of the settings include local plants such as coconut and banyan trees. The architecture depicted reflects the transformation from the thatched cottages of the Li ethnic community who live on the island to modern construction symbolized by the Century Bridge.

On June 29,the scrollwas finally mounted. "Though the work was extremely difficult,we did it with the concerted efforts of our team," Huang Haitao said. "It made me think of the power of the nation working in solidarity to overcome all difficulties till victory is achieved finally."

Click the link to view the scroll:

https://file590cbb74f209.vrh5.cn/v3/idea/VUV9K3zM?suid=396E5BAE-34F7-49A9-9B37-001D595E72AF&sl=1#suid=ohAJ7weovJ0xS_b5-tTLaLxKLpWo&sl=1

Click the link to view the documentary on making the scroll:

http://www.hicn.cn/system/2021/07/01/032576588.shtml