Shanghai is the birthplace of modern Chinese comics, and generations of cartoonists such as Feng Zikai, Zhang Leping, He Youzhi, Dai Dunbang, and Ding Cong have used their brushes to record the city's changing times and unique charm. Today, the art exhibition "Painting Shanghai - Shanghai Style in Comics" opened in Shanghai Culture Square, from February 3 to March 26. Jointly curated by French comic book researcher Yohan Radomski and Chinese curator Zhou Yi, the exhibition is presented in Chinese, English and French, bringing nearly 600 masterpieces by 18 Chinese and foreign cartoonists and 4 collectors.
"Painting Shanghai- Shanghai Style in Comics" explores the changes of the times in the new and old Shanghai from the perspective of comic art, and tells the inseparable relationship between Chinese and foreign comics and the city of Shanghai. The exhibition is a cultural new year gift dedicated to the city and citizens of Shanghai, from which the audience can find the taste and charm of Shanghai.
Travel through the old and new times, and watch comics and Shanghai New Year's flavors
After nearly a hundred years of development, Shanghai comics have endured in the tide of the times. In the 1930s, the golden age of Chinese comic masters emerged, and there were more Western comic works from afar, such as the well-known Disney "Mickey Mouse" and the Belgian comic national treasure "Tintin". Rooted in the spirit of the city, Shanghai cartoonists have become a unique scenery in the history of comics through the classic depiction of Shanghai culture, city life, customs and human feelings, and with the unique charm of Shanghai culture.
Here there is not only the unique temperament of "the stone warehouse gate in the alley and the small bungalow under the plane tree", but also the patriotic feelings of acupuncture and stirring. Shanghai comics are a valuable spiritual and cultural wealth of the city of Shanghai, which is closely related to social changes and has a strong realist character. Cartoonists stroke by stroke, in the intersection of red culture, Shanghai culture, Jiangnan culture to stimulate creative vitality, depicting not only the streets and alleys of Shanghai, but also the development history of the city.
The "Paint Shanghai" comic exhibition is on the occasion of the New Year, a series of vivid cartoons, with the audience to reminisce about the daily and festive atmosphere of shikumen, the crowded and lively scene is filled with a strong new year and human touch, depicting the people's love for life and the surging vitality of the city life, and more reflecting the harmony of neighbors, watching out for each other, and the paradise of happy life.
"In the middle of winter, the kitchen, which has been silent for a long time, is hot, killing chickens and ducks, grinding glutinous rice flour, omelette dumplings, making smoked fish, plus cleaning inside and outside, changing bed sheets and duvet covers, and rushing in and out of the Shikumen, full of joy." This is the picture of the festival depicted by the painter Luo Xixian in "Preparing for the Most Noisy New Year". Comic strip painter Fan Shengfu's children's "Pasting Spring League", "Firing Cannon Battles", and "Pulling Rabbit Lights", the atmosphere of the old and young lively New Year's Day comes alive on the paper.
Li Ning Young, a professional sports children's wear brand under Li Ning Group, participated in the comic exhibition as a creative partner, and brought the brand's original comic image Li-Ning Bululu and Xiaohua Dan, which reflected the timeless traditional Chinese comic image, formed a sense of Chinese comic art history and today's cultural heritage, and used innovative artistic expression to integrate Traditional Chinese culture into new comics and form artistic resonance with teenagers in the new era.
Inherit the Culture of Shanghai School and enjoy the new and old Shanghai style
The combination of East and West, Hai Na Bai Chuan is the charm of Haipai culture. Artists from all over the world gather in Shanghai to find the source of spiritual belonging and creation. Whether it is Feng Zikai's "Kiss", Ding Shu's "Baimeitu", He Youzhi's "I Came from the Folk", Zhang Leping's "Sanmao", Ding Cong's literati portrait comics, or the humorous small paintings of contemporary cartoonists Tango and La Ptite Lu (France), Thierry Robin (France) based on Liu Cixin's science fiction "Ball Lightning", they are all using their own works to depict and thank the city of Shanghai, bringing the comfort of the hearts and the fun imagination of the majority of readers.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House, known as the "cradle of Chinese comic strips", and the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mr. He Youzhi, who served as an editor and reviewer in the company. The series of "Walking through the Streets and Reminiscing about the Past" and the four original works of the "He YouZhi Painting 360 Lines" series provided by the Shanghai Municipal History Museum are all painted by Elder He based on memory when he was 80 or 90 years old. He left precious historical fragments for posterity in the way he painted old Shanghai. Painter Dai Hongqian poured humanistic feelings into urban architecture and painted a series of paintings for her hometown at the invitation of Shanghai Airlines magazine.
The exhibition is guided by the Cultural and Creative Special Exhibition Committee of Shanghai Convention and Exhibition Industry Association, sponsored by Shanghai Trade Promotion Exhibition Co., Ltd. and Lelinlong (Shanghai) Culture and Sports Development Co., Ltd., and co-organized by Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Shanghai Municipal History Museum, Shanghai Cultural Square and Feng Zikai Research Association.
Author: Xuanjing
Image: Courtesy of the organizer
Editor: Guo Chaohao
Editor-in-Charge: Xueying Wang
*Wenhui exclusive manuscript, please indicate the source when reprinting.