Chinese Paper Cutting - 03 Red Rabbits

03 Red Rabbits

When you were young, did you ever wonder whether you’re really supposed to eat that inner sheet of paper on white rabbit sweets? This pair of auspicious phrases plays on the word Rabbit [兔]. They wish for you to stretch your goals and to face the future with a positive attitude. These papercuttings were first drawn and cut by hand, then digitised to be reproduced one-by-one using a Cricut blade-cutting machine. They are made with traditional Chinese red paper, maintaining its authentic texture and unmistakable colour. Part of the charm of this material lies in its small imperfections, variegated colour, and the way it fades over the course of the year.

The traditional red paper is very delicate, so you won’t find it on any mass-produced products. A bespoke process was developed to handle the material in a small-batched production at home. The paper is reinforced with a recycled card backing, made from 80% post-consumer waste, to improve its durability.

About Tsaoao Design

Nicholas Tsao is a practicing architect in Hong Kong. He is a graduate of Cambridge University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Nicholas was awarded the DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award in 2015 and 2016. He currently lives in the historic Bluehouse, where he can contribute to community events and share his passion for traditional crafts.