Chinese kite maker keeps a lost art flying

Almost every household was involved in making kites in the old days, but now the craft has been verging on extinction amid China's modernization. [Provided to China Daily]

He became a cultural ambassador, frequently being invited to talk about the craft abroad.

"In the West, kite flying is usually seen as a sport, so foreigners are very surprised to see Chinese kites, which have clever designs, exquisite craftsmanship and pretty paintings," Liu says.

"I tell them that kites carry people's best wishes. For example, a bat represents luck; a fish means abundance; and a peach is a symbol of longevity in Chinese culture, so it is a good gift for older generations."

His favorite work was the "Ballet Dancer". In 2011, China's Central Ballet Troupe invited him to make a kite to commemorate their Nutcracker performance. Liu designed a dozen models over a year, and a Ballet Dancer was eventually chosen. He painted a blue and white porcelain pattern on it, and formed it in the shape of a swallow whose tail mimics the toes of a ballet dancer.

Since then, Liu has been inspired to combine more traditional cultural elements into his works, such as the Dunhuang frescoes, woodcut prints, and Tibetan thangka paintings.

"I want to elevate the kite from a toy to a work of art," he says.

Liu has striven to combine traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. An enthusiast of digital tools, he has used computers and 3-D printers to replace traditional manual design. The use of new technologies enables him to paint faster than previous generations did. "They were shocked," says Liu with a proud smile.

In 2011, Liu was nominated as the representative of the craft by Beijing's Xicheng District Government.

But he feels alone now. He is known as "the last master of handmade kites in Beijing".