Above the fold

From making state gifts to installations for international brands like Hermes, Liu's journey from paper folding enthusiast to revered artist has been nothing short of the extraordinary. Since his introduction to the art in 2006, he has transformed this ancient craft into a boundless realm of creativity that invites people to explore the endless possibilities of a single sheet of paper.

"Paper folding is pure magic — a blend of tradition and innovation," Liu reflects. "With every fold, I aim to push the boundaries of this art form, creating beauty that knows no bounds."

The exhibition highlights a series of paper-folded rhinos, including life-size pieces and other colorful examples.

This series originated in a piece Liu created for the Guinness World Records — a colossal paper-folding rhinoceros which he and his team made out of a 196-square-meter sheet of white paper in 2017. It took them over three hours to fold the massive sheet into the shape of a rhino that finally stood seven meters tall and four meters wide.

Creating this masterpiece took teamwork. Liu and his team meticulously moved across the paper, bending over, squatting, and crawling to make the rhino.

However, the project wasn't just a demonstration of skill. The artist also sought to raise awareness of animal conservation, especially of Sudan, the last male northern white rhinoceros, who was still alive at the time. Sudan passed away in Kenya in 2018. Liu spent a year preparing for the project in the hopes that it would inspire people to protect wildlife and shun products derived from endangered species.

Cameron Cundle, the managing director of The Peninsula Beijing, was initially drawn to Liu's rhinoceros pieces and was inspired by them to invite him to hold a solo exhibition.

At the exhibition, Cundle was particularly fascinated by flat paper pieces, which make use of lines and colors to create geometric designs. "I like the shapes," Cundle remarks. "But they're actually folded patterns that create the artwork, which is cool."

After trying his hand at making a paper dragon during a workshop, Cundle gained firsthand understanding of the intricate art form and realized that it demands patience, much like meditation. "You can't skip a step. You have to be precise from the very beginning and stay disciplined," he says, adding that it's amazing how a piece of paper can be made into something so beautiful.