88-year-old Chinese artist uses paper-cutting as a way to pray for a victory against virus (4)

Wu Rongfang, an 88-year-old paper-cutting artist from Nanjing, Jiangsu in east China, prays for the "god of misery" to be driven away through her paper-cutting activities.

Red paper cutting represents the hope of spring, and the confidence to overcome the epidemic.

Wu pointed out that she started working with this paper-cutting idea three days ago.

"Now it is a critical period for epidemic prevention and control. If I can integrate traditional culture and use the method I am good at to cheer up the medical staff who are engaged and working hard and furthermore comfort the neighbors and relatives around me, then as a Party member and as a volunteer, I will be very glad,” said Wu.

So Wu hurried up and finally finished this special creation just as spring begins. She spent a lot of time selecting themes and coming up with rough sketches, cutting, splicing and bonding.

"For example, I would like to call on people to stay at home as much as possible. During the current epidemic, ordinary residents must protect themselves and not cause trouble to others," said Wu, adding that she used a straightforward and bold sense to represent times of emergency and therefore cut a big Chinese character 宅 (zhái) or housing."

Other characters from Wu’s works also symbolize peace and beauty. “In my work ‘guardian angel’, as the name implies, there are two figures wearing masks saluting the Red Cross. This work expresses gratitude to all the Chinese medical staff working hard these days,” Wu explained.

“There are also several flower elements in the works, I choose the plum blossom and narcissus, because these are spring flowers, I want to tell you that we will usher in good days together soon," Wu said.   (Photos/People's Daily Online)