Kirie

Paper cutting is the best-known ignored medium in use everywhere in the world and each one of us is certainly familiar with it in some or the other of its different forms. Kirie can be best described as a beautiful art form of papercutting, which added a new and creative art sphere to develop picture expression by cutting papers. It is a paper-cutting craft using a cutter knife and possesses distinctive features that lies in the striking clarity of its lines.

The process of Kirie art consisted of drawing of an original picture on a white paper, then cutting out a black colored paper with following to the sketch and then finally pasting various colors of small pieces of paper from behind. The wonder of combination of sharpness at paper edge by a cutter knife and colors created by a handmade paper is capable of expressing beauty of overlapping that is different from the usage of any other kind of paper.

The folk art of Chinese paper cuts is an ancient art thought to have begun around the time of the invention of paper, around 206 B.C. In the present times, Kirie tradition lives on in modern and new styles. Kirie (cut paper), Kirigami (cut & folded paper), and Katazome (stencil for textile prints) are simple yet sophisticated techniques, that are gaining popularity all across the world.

Kirie have different uses or purposes. These can be used as an ornament in gates, windows, walls, columns, mirrors, lamps and lanterns and are still widely used today in some important festivals especially during New Year. These paper-cuttings made by this traditional art can also serve as presents or as decorations on the gifts. Kirie paper cuttings can be used for religious purposes, since they serve as decorations for sacrificial offerings to the ancestors or to the gods.

All that an artisan needs for creating an artifact by using kirie is time, patience, a steady hand and a few inexpensive supplies. The designs can range from small, simple ones to intricate,detailed 'masterpieces'. Kirie allows one to experiment and innovate with various papers, colors, frames and projects.