As the artist who designed the first zodiac stamp in China, 99-year-old Huang Yongyu has made headlines again by creating stamps for the upcoming Year of the Rabbit. Creative, humorous, and conveying a sense of happiness, the new stamp series reflects the consistent artistic style of the renowned artist. And just like the much sought-after monkey stamp he created in 1980, the newly-released rabbit stamps attracted many collectors waiting in long queues.
In the new stamp series, the first stamp features a blue rabbit with a pen and paper writing New Year blessings to people everywhere. It toys with the wordplay between the terms for "blue rabbit" and "blueprint," which sound similar in Chinese, with "blueprint" representing a bright future and good fortune.
The first stamp in the Year of the Rabbit stamp series designed by Huang Yongyu. /Chinapost
The second stamp, depicting three rabbits chasing each other from head to tail, conveys a sense of vitality. If you look closely, there is a jade rabbit pounding medicine in the background, representing wishes of good health and happiness for people.
The second stamp in the Year of the Rabbit stamp series designed by Huang Yongyu. /Chinapost
The rabbit is the fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac calendar and represents beauty, peace, prosperity, and harvest. Huang said he designed the stamps this way to convey a sense of happiness over Lunar New Year celebrations. "Painting the rabbit stamps is a happy thing," he added.
"What comes to mind is that the first rabbit is not like a regular, gentle one. It suggests a sense of naughtiness, naivety, and a unique soul. I think it has something to do with Mr. Huang Yongyu's understanding of the zodiac," said Wang Jing, executive editor of the Year of the Rabbit stamps. She added that these latest works are consistent with the creative and humorous approach seen throughout Huang's career.
China’s first zodiac stamp — the Monkey Stamp — designed by Huang Yongyu in 1980. /Chinapost
This unique creation style can also be seen when Huang Yongyu designed zodiac stamps featuring monkeys back in 1980 and 2016. As he recalled, he picked up a pen, got an idea and used his sense of humor to complete the creation of the monkey with some improvisation. A sense of joy and festivity has always been at the heart of what Huang seeks to convey to his audience.
That is Huang Yongyu, his creations are humorous but also deep in meaning. With his artistic career spanning decades, Huang has always managed to convey the deeper meaning of life in a light and natural way.
Renowned Chinese artist Huang Yongyu. /CGTN
Huang Yongyu was born in central China's Hunan Province in 1924. He left his hometown of Fenghuang County while still in his teens, and traveled around China. His woodcut prints, color ink paintings and literary works brim with his passion for, and profound insights into, people from various groups and walks of life and the spirit of the times.
A color ink painting created by Huang Yongyu. /Courtesy of Huang Yongyu
In addition, the veteran artist loves animals very much. Various kinds of animals are featured in his artworks. He once said of all the animals he has painted, rats inspire him the most.
"Rats always feel content and never starve to death. When being chased, they will hide or run away. It is unlucky if it comes across a cat. But if not, its life is good," Huang Yongyu explained humorously.
Back in 2017, Huang's paintings of the Chinese zodiac animals were exhibited at the National Museum of China in Beijing. All the animals appear lively, offering witty monologues or engaging dialogues that highlight their individual personalities. Viewers can easily sense the "forever young" mentality in Huang's work.
The weight of time is acknowledged, but told in an easy way. Today, at the age of almost 100, Huang Yongyu is still passionate about life and never ceases to create or explore new ideas.