The Mikimoto Hall at the Ginza Mikimoto flagship store will host "Flower Pearls in Bloom: The Paper-Cutting Universe of China's Ku Shulan," the first-ever exhibition in Japan by paper-cutting artist Ku Shulan (ancient Chinese paper-cutting), starting on August 1st.
The approximately 30 works on display are from the collection of Taiwan-born art director Huang Yongsong. The exhibit features familiar motifs such as seasonal life, children, and animals, as well as goddess statues and the Tree of Life.
A two-and-a-half-hour talk show, "The Paper-Cutting Universe of Ku Shulan," will be held at 3:00 PM on August 3rd at the Mikimoto Atrium in Mikimoto Ginza 2 (2-4-12 Ginza). Following Huang's keynote speech, he will discuss the unique perspective of Ku Shulan's design with graphic designer Kohei Sugiura, who specializes in Asian iconography. Those wishing to participate in the talk show should apply by July 19th by postcard or email via the website. If there are a large number of applicants, a lottery will be held.

Ku was born in 1920 in Wang Village, Xunyi County, Shaanxi Province, China. At the age of nine, her mother bound her feet, and from the age of 15, she stopped attending school and began learning embroidery and paper-cutting as part of her bride's training. In 1980, an art researcher at the Xunyi County Cultural Museum discovered her talent for paper-cutting and began teaching in the county. She has received various national awards, and in 1996 was awarded the title of "Chinese Folk Art Ambassador" by UNESCO. She passed away in 2004, but a solo exhibition was held posthumously at the Baltimore Museum of Art in the United States, and a Chinese version of "Cutting Flower Maidens and Ku Shulan," published in Taiwan in 1997, was published in Shanghai in 2009.


【Exhibition Information】
Hanaju Ranman "The Paper-Cut Universe of Kushulan, China" Exhibition
Location: Mikimoto Hall, 6th floor, Mikimoto Main Store
Address: 4-5-5 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Dates: August 1st to September 17th
Hours: 11:00 to 19:00 (until 16:00 on September 2nd only)
Closed: August 28th
Free admission