Chinese Papercutting Workshop Inside the Iconic Blue House
RGS-HK is delighted to host a unique workshop inside the historic Blue House, a Grade 1 heritage building in Wan Chai. Hosted by PAPERTECTURE, a local paper crafts studio founded by architect Nick Tsao, this event combines history, culture, and hands-on creativity.
Nick welcomes us to his home and design studio at the Blue House, where he introduces us to the art of Chinese papercutting, one of the oldest Chinese folk traditions, dating back over 2,000 years. Traditionally made from red paper, symbolizing luck and prosperity, papercut designs are used for festivals, weddings, and celebrations.
The workshop begins with lectures on the historical background of the Blue House and the cultural significance of Chinese papercutting. Then, participants will create their own intricate papercut designs using Hong Kong heritage buildings as templates. Their unique designs will be digitized and then reproduced using a papercutting machine.
Whether you're passionate about art, architecture, or local heritage, this workshop offers a rare opportunity to explore Hong Kong’s culture through the delicate craft of papercutting.
Bookings: $580 for Members; $680 for Non-member guests. And $480 for student members and children. The workshop is suitable for ages 6 and above.
Nick Tsao is an architect who has worked with leading design firms such as Foster + Partners and Herzog & de Meuron. He is a graduate in architecture of the University of Cambridge and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Nick was awarded the DFA Hong Kong Young Design Talent Awards in 2015 and 2016. He currently resides in the historic Blue House, where he contributes to community events and share his passion for architecture and traditional crafts.
Nick has been making traditional papercuttings by hand for Chinese New Year for many years. Four years ago, he developed a way to use a machine to gradually replicate his designs, while maintaining the use of authentic traditional paper. This hobby has now grown into a full-time business, spanning across product design, workshops, events, installations and bespoke artwork.