What comes to mind when you hear the term "paper art"?

If you can think of nothing besides paper-cutting and origami, A Tribute to Tradition -- An Exhibition of Contemporary Paper Artworks, can readily expand and update your understanding of this ancient yet ever-evolving art form.

Sponsored by Jilin Normal University in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin province, and slated to open on July 15 at Beijing's Today Art Museum, the National Arts Fund project will pair 58 contemporary Chinese artists and art academy teachers with the work of late folk artist Ku Shulan (1920-2004), a near-mythical figure known as the "Goddess of Paper-cutting" in China.

More than 120 artworks spanning from paper-cutting and installation to sculpture and relief will be on display, showcasing Chinese craftsmanship, creativity and innovation.

The show ends on Aug 3 in Beijing and will continue in other cities, including  Ji'nan, Shenyang, Xi'an and Wuhan.

"I don't know what else paper can do, nor do I know what it cannot do," said contemporary Chinese artist Li Hongbo, head of the country's first paper art research institute, who is co-curating the show with Chen Si.

Established in 2017 at Jilin Normal University, Li's institute is committed to the study of the history of traditional Chinese paper and related art forms and is working to build a digital database of the country's paper art, both ancient and modern.