Paper cuttings have long fascinated viewers with their expressive storytelling and extraordinary precision.
Tradition & Perfection: Paper Cuttings from China & Switzerland, a unique exhibition, features a historical overview of the development of paper cutting, a fascinating art form in Switzerland and China, then showcases the diversity of works through dialogical and thematic comparisons. It brings together the intricate Swiss paper cuttings of the Wyss Collection (Underseen, Bern) and vibrant Chinese works from UMAG’s collection, alongside masterpieces from Shanxi’s Guangling Paper Cutting Art Museum and Jieyiyuan Paper Cutting Art Center.
In 2009, Chinese paper cutting was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. To highlight the significance of this craft spanning both cultures, two parallel exhibitions will be held in first half of 2026, at the University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG) (20 Mar - 7 Jun), Hong Kong University and the Kunsthaus Interlaken in Swiss (22 Feb – 17 May).
Swiss paper cuttings, often monochrome and symmetrically arranged, capture Alpine life with astonishing detail and ornamentation. Visitors will encounter works by pioneers like Johann Jakob Hauswirth and Louis Saugy, as well as contemporary artists such as Ueli Hofer and Martha Kneusslin. In contrast, Chinese paper cuttings dazzle with bold colours—most often red, symbolizing good fortune—and are presented in thematic series. Their rich symbolism, from cranes and pine trees representing longevity to opera masks and regional landscapes, reveals layers of cultural meaning.
(source: UMAG website)
PROGRAMME
Speaker: An English-speaking docent assigned by the University Museum and Art Gallery (UMAG), The University of Hong Kong
Date: Saturday, 23 May 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 11:00 am
Venue: 1/F, T.T. Tsui Building, UMAG, Hong Kong University, 90 Bonham Road,
Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Admission: $150 for members, $200 for guests /non-members
Registration: Please email <membership@royalasiaticsociety.org.hk> and provide your membership number, if applicable, at the time of registration. Please kindly complete your registration by advance payment via Stripe's payment links below (using your Credit Card):
Members ($150):
https://buy.stripe.com/6oU6oIg7WfIQb191tD5EY3h
Non-member / Guest ($200):
https://buy.stripe.com/5kQfZi7Bq1S0b196NX5EY3i
Details about the other payment option will be sent on registration. Upon receipt of payment, your
registration will be confirmed by email. Registration will be closed at 12 noon on 22 May 2026.