Exploring crossovers

China's paper-folding scene is home to plenty of up-and-coming talent, and online forums are filled with enthusiasts. But it's still rare for someone to make paper folding their full-time job; most people just see it as a hobby.

What sets Liu apart as a professional artist is his vision for what the art can be, and his work has caught the attention of many brands, especially luxury brands.

"When I'm making my own work, I see myself as an artist. But when I work with brands, I see myself more as a designer. I use my art to collaborate and create something special for them," he explains.

He doesn't find making a new design hard. His years of experience mean he's used to calculations and experiments. What is hard is making a new piece that has its own style, rather than one that shows off its difficulty.

"Nowadays, paper folding is a way for me to explore more, to try out new collaborations," he says.

Looking ahead, he wants his work to have greater meaning, maybe by focusing on issues like animal conservation, or by making pieces that make people think.

Paper folding is just one of Liu's hobbies. He also loves woodworking, making niche musical instruments, making leather goods, and making silver jewelries.

Lately, he has been trying to use bacterial cellulose to fold. "Folding is everywhere — when you blink, when insects flap their wings — and it has many uses," he says.

"Paper folding also has lots of uses in engineering; it can be used in everyday items, like air safety bags in cars," Liu says, adding that he's working with researchers to see what else the art can be used to do.

These experiments in different fields are new territory, but Liu's happy to explore it alone, enjoying the thrill of discovering something new.

In January, he teamed up with pastry chef Xu Bing to introduce the new, paper folding-themed afternoon tea served in the lobby of The Peninsula Beijing, adding a fresh twist to traditional paper culture by blending it with culinary delight.

This unique afternoon tea combines Chinese-style steamed and crispy treats with paper works in the form of angular designs and vibrant Chinese reds and yellows to create a touch of Eastern elegance.

During their collaboration, Liu and Xu ensured that each pastry displayed distinct folds, adding to the paper folding-inspired aesthetics.

Xu explains that his aim was to create a harmonious balance of ingredients and flavors that also echoed Liu's vision of the art as an art of balance and distribution.

The menu also includes a fun surprise — guests get to make their own lucky items with auspicious meanings, like fortune bags, red packets, and lanterns, using paper Liu has predesigned.

The highlight of the afternoon tea is a chocolate Chinese dragon, which draws inspiration from Liu's nine Dragon Spirit Wall installation in the hotel's lobby.