Whispers of the Heart — Paper Art Exhibition
Liu Li’s Paper Art Exhibition Opens Successfully in Maryland
“Whispers of the Heart” Explores Faith, Life, and Cross-Cultural Dialogue
On January 17, the paper art exhibition by artist Liu Li officially opened at the Washington Arts and Design Association in Maryland. Despite snowfall and cold winter weather on the day of the opening, approximately forty guests from diverse professional backgrounds and ethnic communities attended the event, gathering to mark the launch of the exhibition in a warm and engaging atmosphere.
Titled “Whispers of the Heart,” the exhibition presents Liu Li’s recent body of work through the medium of paper cutting—an art form rooted in Chinese folk tradition. Through this familiar yet transformed language, the artist reflects on themes of life, faith, and inner spiritual experience. The works retain the delicacy and rhythmic beauty of traditional papercutting while extending it into a contemporary, deeply personal mode of expression, drawing strong interest from visitors across the arts, education, culture, and local community sectors.
During the opening reception, guests toured the exhibition with guidance from the artist and the curatorial team, engaging in conversations around themes such as transformation, spiritual renewal, and cultural identity. One of the most striking works on view is a large-scale red paper butterfly installation: hundreds of butterflies suspended from the ceiling subtly form the shape of a heart within the exhibition space. The installation symbolizes rebirth, transformation, and an upward spiritual movement, becoming a focal point for reflection, discussion, and photography among visitors.
As the organizing institution, the Washington Arts and Design Association remains committed to fostering contemporary art practices and promoting cross-cultural exchange. This exhibition not only offers local audiences an opportunity to encounter contemporary expressions of Chinese paper art, but also creates a platform for dialogue on art, faith, and the meaning of life within a multicultural context.
Liu Li’s paper art exhibition will remain open to the public throughout the exhibition period. The Association looks forward to welcoming more visitors and invites audiences to engage with art as a gentle yet powerful language—one that speaks quietly, directly, and profoundly to the heart.
