No local artist typifies Shanghai more in the public consciousness than Li Shoubai. That's because Li has chosen that definitive symbol of Shanghai - the Shikumen - as the subject of his canvas. So identified is Li with his chosen subject that it has earned him the moniker "Mr. Shikumen.'"

　　"Ever since I was a boy, I have always had a deep fascination with the real life stories occurring within Shikumen and have been drawn to interpreting the stories through my art," Li says. He had his first work published in 1973 when he was just 11 years old, having been trained by his father, Li Tingyi, an accomplished paper-cutting artist, and Professor Lin Ximing, a local painter of some note. Since then, Li has attracted both international and local collectors, including the Shanghai Art Museum which began acquiring his work in 1990. Li's art has turned into a comfortable business. His Shanghai ShouBai Cultural & Art Co., Ltd. was established in 2004 and his works typically sell for around RMB8,000 per square chi (roughly RMB72,000 per square meter).

　　Despite being a mainstream commercial success, Li still sees himself as an artist with a creative mission. "Just as Zhang Ailing gave her unique perspective of Shanghai's urban modernity in the 1940s, so too do I use my way to express classic city culture," he explains. As a folk artist Li also feels that change is vital to keeping the tradition alive. "Paper-cutting in China has gone through over 1,000 years development, has formed its unique style, skills and charm," he says. "However, innovation is necessary to rejuvenate China's folk arts. We should keep updating to cater to modern needs."

《That's Shanghai》

​Monday, 01 February 2010 Written by Emma Chi