Lion dances, drums and lanterns bring a strong taste of traditional Chinese New Year during the 2018 "Happy New Year" event in Riga, Latvia on February 10th, 2018. Typical Chinese celebrations, such as the Spring Festival Temple Fair and the Art Performance, have presented a typical picture of Chinese New Year to the local people of Latvia. Among them, fine paper-cutting works brought by Suzhou paper-cut master Jin Guorong attracted the local audience.
Jin Guorong brought nearly 100 works to the exhibition. The paper-cuts include different genres, such as folk culture, portraiture, flower, insect, Chinese zodiac animals, and traditional architecture works.
As the Inheritor of Suzhou Paper-cutting, Jin Guorong was born in Suzhou in August, 1957. In the early 1980s, Zhang Junchang, a folk paper-cut artist in Suzhou, became his teacher. His paper-cut has the characteristics of Gusu paper-cuts, featuring exquisite workmanship, smooth lines and vivid form. In recent years, he has also innovated the traditional art of GuSu paper-cutting, which combines silk and traditional paper-cutting art. It has received critical reviews from experts in the industry. He also applies for patents of invention and creation to the State Intellectual Property Office.
Apart from participating the exhibition, Jin also donated two Chinese silk paper-cuts "Chinese Zodiac Animals" and "Rich Dog" to the China Cultural Center in Riga in the hope that more people will learn about China.
