Chinese artist Li Hongbo stretches a paper sculpture work at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

Chinese artist Li Hongbo shows his paper sculpture work, which is made of 6,000 pieces of paper, while raising it at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

Chinese artist Li Hongbo shows his paper sculpture work, which is made of 6,000 pieces of paper, while raising it at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

Chinese artist Li Hongbo shows his paper sculpture work, made of 6,000 pieces of paper, while raising it at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

Chinese artist Li Hongbo shows his paper sculpture work, which is made of 6000 pieces of paper, at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

A combination picture shows Chinese artist Li Hongbo raising a paper sculpture, made of 6,000 pieces of paper, at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

Chinese artist Li Hongbo's paper sculptures are placed on a table for a photo at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

Chinese artist Li Hongbo uses an iron needle to remove dust from a paper sculpture work at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014.Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

Chinese artist Li Hongbo polishes the nose bridge of a paper sculpture at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

An assistant of Chinese artist Li Hongbo adjusts the chair carrying a paper replica of the Sculpture of David, which will be made according a David statue (L), at Li's studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

Chinese artist Li Hongbo holds one of his paper sculptures at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

The pasted papers with hollows, materials for Chinese artist Li Hongbo's paper sculptures, are seen at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

Chinese artist Li Hongbo shows 500 pieces of paper, which are pasted with hollows, as the material for his paper sculptures at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

A plaster statue is placed as an example for Chinese artist Li Hongbo's paper sculpture at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

A paper sculpture by Chinese artist Li Hongbo is packed at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

Chinese artist Li Hongbo walks out of his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

Chinese artist Li Hongbo plays with a paper sculpture of a gun, which is made of 300 pieces of paper, at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014.Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. "Later, I used this principle to make a gun," he said, casually inverting a crude paper pistol into an elegant fan. "A gun is solid, used for killing, but I turned it into a tool for play or decoration. In this way, it lost both the form of a gun and the culture inherent to a gun. It became a game." Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

Chinese artist Li Hongbo plays a paper sculpture of gun, which is made of 300 pieces of paper, at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. "Later, I used this principle to make a gun," he said, casually inverting a crude paper pistol into an elegant fan. "A gun is solid, used for killing, but I turned it into a tool for play or decoration. In this way, it lost both the form of a gun and the culture inherent to a gun. It became a game." Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

Chinese artist Li Hongbo plays with a paper sculpture of a gun, which is made of 300 pieces of paper, at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. "Later, I used this principle to make a gun," he said, casually inverting a crude paper pistol into an elegant fan. "A gun is solid, used for killing, but I turned it into a tool for play or decoration. In this way, it lost both the form of a gun and the culture inherent to a gun. It became a game." Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

Chinese artist Li Hongbo plays with a paper sculpture of gun, which is made of 300 pieces of paper, at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY) 

A combination picture shows Chinese artist Li Hongbo playing with a paper sculpture of gun, made of 300 pieces of paper, at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing, January 20, 2014. Born into a simple farming family, Li said he had always loved paper, invented in ancient China. Beyond his sculptures, he has spent six years producing a collection of books recording more than 1,000 years of Buddhist art on paper. Neither plaster nor clay, the statues are concertinas of thousands upon thousands of fine pieces of paper."At the beginning, I discovered the flexible nature of paper through Chinese paper toys and paper lanterns," Li, 38, told Reuters. "Later, I used this principle to make a gun," he said, casually inverting a crude paper pistol into an elegant fan. "A gun is solid, used for killing, but I turned it into a tool for play or decoration. In this way, it lost both the form of a gun and the culture inherent to a gun. It became a game." Picture taken on January 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY)