Paper is transformed into marine creatures and installation artworks in the skilled hands of Wen Qiwen. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Infinite exploration

It was the end of 2013, when paper artist was not a profession known by a lot of people, that she established a studio－Jackie's Paper Art. Wen's stunning paper artworks found the media's spotlight and brand cooperation followed.

In 2014, Forest Fairy, a paper jewelry and clothes collection by Wen, was displayed at the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing.

In 2015, The Waking of Insects, her first paper-cut art exhibition, was held in Guangzhou to mark the solar term of jingzhe, the name of which alludes to the fact that animals that hibernate during winter are awakened by spring thunder and the earth begins to come back to life.

"I am the fortunate one to find my passion for paper art and make it my career," Wen says.

Last year, her daughter was born and this has, not surprisingly, reduced her hectic schedule.

"I have so many roles to play, including daughter, mother, wife and boss, but above all I must be myself first," Wen says.

For Wen, being a mother enriches her perspective of the world and her artworks.

"After a child is born, every mother has, to some extent, experienced a struggle and a period of helplessness, be it short or long. I want to express that kind of feeling in an artwork for my next exhibition," she says.