On a particularly cold and rainy New England winter day in 1997, a splash of vibrant origami papers brought to my mind the California sunshine--and I had a sudden urge to resume an art form that I had learned as a hobby growing up in China.

With an eye for the exquisite interplay and balance of yin and yang (or positive and negative), and a vivid imagination that infuses life in each cut, I try to transform ordinary sheets of paper into works of art. Drawing inspiration from many places--nature, folklore, urban landscapes, personal memories, my cultural heritage—I try to evoke a sense of wonder and introspection.

Image caption: "Mermaid," hand-cut paper, inks, 16x20".