Exhibition captures Chinese artist Huang Yongyu's keen observation of life

An exhibition featuring over 200 artworks by Chinese artist Huang Yongyu opened on Wednesday at the Shanghai World Expo Museum in Huangpu District.

Huang, a renowned artist celebrated for the elegance of his woodblock prints and ink paintings, passed away on June 13, 2023, at the age of 99. He was born in Changde, Hunan Province, and left his hometown in his early teens.

Titled "For So Long, and Colorful," the exhibition is a collaboration between the museum and the Beijing Fine Art Academy. It showcases more than 200 works created by Huang mainly in his 90s, including ink paintings, prints and sculptures. The exhibition has meticulously listed his manuscripts, publications and archival materials.

Through a unique narrative focusing on Shanghai, the exhibition pays tribute to Huang's passionate observation of life.

Huang moved to Shanghai in 1947. The captivating opening section of the exhibition is titled "I Must Go to Shanghai," revisiting Huang's early years in school, his career, and his life while highlighting his cultural connections.

He had a deep affection for Shanghai, but his friendships with cartoonist Zhang Leping (1910-1992) and the literary great Ba Jin (1904-2005) were especially memorable.

"I have always been fond of Shanghai," he once remarked.

The curator has created a colorful album that encapsulates Huang's artistic life, showcasing his full and vivid journey.

The chronology at the entrance of the exhibition captures the essence of this album, featuring representative works centered around the theme of Shanghai, such as "Luggage" and "Eliminate Hooligans."

These pieces demonstrate how the "adventurers' paradise" sparked new trends and sharpened Huang's artistic vision.

The exhibition blurs the line between art and literature, showcasing Huang's creative idea of "painting as form, literature as soul." The vibrancy of the paintings and the philosophical ideas in the lyrics combine, presenting viewers with multi-level cultural nourishment.

"Ruining the Scenery" juxtaposes humorous postscripts with ink paintings, satirizing the elegant gatherings of antiquity and modernity, as well as the oddities of today. With the allure of literati paintings and cartoonish exaggeration, it reveals a thorough and open-minded view of the world through self-mockery.

The exhibition's design illuminates various areas of the room in rainbow colors, mirroring Huang's famous quote, "It is for the sun that I came into this world." This symbolizes the brilliant artistic world under his pen while also paying homage to his magnificent and passionate creative life.

The interweaving of light and color allows spectators to go through the free world under Huang's brushstrokes, feel the depth and passion in his works, and witness how the artist, with color as his faith, overcomes the desolation of time.

The exhibition is organized into seven sections based on distinct artistic themes, with the first chapter detailing Huang's early years and experiences in Shanghai, highlighting his interactions and artistic influences in the city.

"The Zodiac Series" features a collection of zodiac-themed calendars he created as well as narcissus and lotus flowers painted by Huang, demonstrating his love for nature.

From "Where Lies the Way Home" to "Such Length," the latter section expands the narrative with a timeline, depicting Huang's retrospective glances over the years, expressing his contemplations and deep love of landscapes and the world.

If you go

Opening hours: Through June 8 (closed on Mondays), 9am-5pm

Address: 818 Mengzi Rd | 蒙自路818号

Admission: Free