Foremost artist in the free-form style of paper-cutting. Performer, designer, illustrator and instructor in the ancient art of Chinese paper-cutting, Mr. Cheng came to this country in 1972 and became a United States citizen. He now resides in New Jersey with his family. He was born in Banfu - a small town in the eastern seaboard province of Giangsu, China. Five years later he moved to Taiwan. At a very young age, he learned his skill from his grandmother and perfected the art to earn the right to be called a Master of paper-cutting. He does the paper-cutting in free-form, without any sketching or marking on the paper in advance.
He is the author of three books, Chinese New Year, Six Chinese Brothers and Scissors Cutting for Beginners, all published through Holt, Reinhart and Winston in New York. Mr. Cheng currently travels through the United States demonstrating his skill and making his work available to the public. He also does numerous demonstrations at museums. From 1973 to 1977 he directed workshops at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Mr. Cheng has done one-man shows at the Brooklyn Museum, The Cloistors, the Greater Middletown Arts Council, Seton Hall University, West Point Academy, University of Maryland, St. Johns University, N.Y., Pittsburgh Childrens Museum, Pa and numerous other companies.
The audience has been amazed with the speed and accuracy with which characters appear before them from blank pieces of paper. Such well known figures as Mickey Mouse and ET, as well as any other creature known to man, arei n Mr. Cheng's repertoire. Human profiles emerge in less than one minute. When the opportunity presents itself, Mr. Cheng also takes his art to the public and private school system, showing his skill to young and old alike. He would like very much to popularize his art form in the country.
He is the author of three books, Chinese New Year, Six Chinese Brothers and Scissors Cutting for Beginners, all published through Holt, Reinhart and Winston in New York. Mr. Cheng currently travels through the United States demonstrating his skill and making his work available to the public. He also does numerous demonstrations at museums. From 1973 to 1977 he directed workshops at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Mr. Cheng has done one-man shows at the Brooklyn Museum, The Cloistors, the Greater Middletown Arts Council, Seton Hall University, West Point Academy, University of Maryland, St. Johns University, N.Y., Pittsburgh Childrens Museum, Pa and numerous other companies.
The audience has been amazed with the speed and accuracy with which characters appear before them from blank pieces of paper. Such well known figures as Mickey Mouse and ET, as well as any other creature known to man, arei n Mr. Cheng's repertoire. Human profiles emerge in less than one minute. When the opportunity presents itself, Mr. Cheng also takes his art to the public and private school system, showing his skill to young and old alike. He would like very much to popularize his art form in the country.