Renowned Chinese painter Huang Yongyu is exhibiting his zodiac paintings at Shenzhen Art Museum. From 2006 to 2017, he painted the 12 zodiac animals every year for the Spring Festival.

Born in 1924 in Hunan Province, Huang is famous for co-designing the Golden Monkey Stamp, a postage stamp issued in China in 1980. Although not rare, the stamp has come to symbolize the strong market for collectable postage stamps. Demand for the stamp has made it one of the most sought-after Chinese stamps.

Under his brushes, the 12 zodiac animals look comical and lively, often including witty dialogues or monologues written by Huang that highlight the personalities of the animals. For example, “I am ugly, but my mom likes me” is written next to a dark gray little mouse.

In 2016, when the artist was going to create the Year of the Monkey painting, he was inspired by the Chinese literary classic “Journey to the West.”

Speaking about the zodiac animals, Huang says it is most difficult to illustrate the dragon as idioms about the mythical creature are few and far between. So, for his dragon works, he turned to the tale “Nine Mythological Sons of the Dragon King” and their distinctive characteristics.

In the tale, the fourth son, Pulao, is described as a creature who screams when hit and hence is seen as a symbol of alarming sounds. Ancient Chinese used to craft bell handles in the image of Pulao. In one of Huang’s paintings, Pulao is depicted as a man who speaks loudly into a mobile phone on a street.

Huang says that working on the zodiac series has enabled him to better understand the tradition.

A painting of a cat created by Huang Yongyu.

A painting of monkeys created by Huang Yongyu.

A painting of a dog created by Huang Yongyu.

黃永玉先生與深圳美術館有着深厚的友誼。2004年，深圳美術館舉辦黃永玉先生的展覽，展出了他從塞納河到翡冷翠的系列作品，引起了很大的轟動，此情此景至今都是美談。

2017年1月，國家博物館為黃永玉先生舉辦了“十二個十二個月”的生肖畫展，反響強烈。值此農曆戊戌年到來之前，又是距黃永玉先生在深圳美術館舉辦展覽的14年之後，深圳美術館與北京融德畫廊合作，複制了“十二個十二個月”的生肖畫展中的全部作品，特别舉辦黃永玉先生的生肖畫法觀摩展。

這一觀摩展旨在觀摩黃永玉先生的生肖畫畫法，因此，展覽配上了深圳美術館藝術總監陳履生先生對于黃永玉先生的生肖畫解讀的文章。

最近正是社會關注生肖繪畫的熱點時刻，希望美術家通過觀摩，研究黃永玉先生的生肖畫法，以提高當代生肖畫的水平，同時，也給公衆以欣賞黃永玉先生獨特的生肖繪畫的機會。

Dates:Until Feb. 22

Venue:Shenzhen Art Museum, inside Donghu Park, Aiguo Road, Luohu District (羅湖區愛國路東湖公園内深圳美術館)

Metro:Line 5 or 7, Tai’an Station (太安站), Exit C and then take a taxi

Source/ Shenzhen Daily Editor/ Cao Zhen

WeChat editors/ Doria, Jane

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