Chinese artist Huang Yongyu. /CGTN
Huang Yongyu, one of the most influential contemporary Chinese artists, died on Tuesday. Prior to his death, Huang Yongyu expressed in his will, "I hope my ashes will be turned into fertilizer and returned to nature." His family members stated that they would respect Huang's wishes and not hold any farewell or memorial ceremony.
Born in 1924 in Fenghuang County in central China's Hunan Province, Huang had a passion for painting from a young age and gained recognition in the art world for his outstanding wood prints completed during his youth. Despite his impoverished background, he ventured out at the age of 12 to make a living and studied art and literature, becoming a "maverick talent."
Wood print "Ashima" by Huang Yongyu. /CFP
He was an academician of the China National Academy of Painting and a professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts.
Huang Yongyu's artistic pursuits encompassed various mediums, including oil painting, traditional Chinese painting, sculpture, and craft design. Among his notable works are the vibrant woodprint "Ashima" and artistic pieces featuring owls and lotus flowers.
In 1980, Huang gained widespread recognition for designing the first Chinese zodiac stamp for China, known as the "Monkey Stamp."
In January 2023, he once again showcased his creativity by designing a blue rabbit zodiac stamp.
Details of one of the artworks created by Huang Yongyu. /CGTN
Literature also held a special place in Huang's heart, and he wrote for over seventy years. He excelled in various genres including poetry, prose, essays, and novels.
"What's the big deal about life and death!" said Huang about posthumous matters during a 2013 media interview around the time of the release of his autobiography, "Take me to the crematorium, and my friends can come back to my home and have a cup of coffee. That's enough."
According to a public statement provided by Chen Han, the legal advisor designated by Huang Yongyu and his family, Huang signed his final will on September 8, 2021. In the will, he requested that his body should be cremated and his ashes returned to nature as fertilizer, without his family retrieving them. He also specified that no farewell or memorial ceremony should be held.