Huang Yao (1917- 1987), was born in Shanghai and was an illustrious cartoonist and calligrapher - one of the last practitioners of the highly respected Chinese literati recluse tradition. His cartoon character Niubizi was a star in the 1930s - at a time when the cartoon, a part of the contemporary art movement, was at its peak in China. A well-known patriotic artist during the national struggle in the resistance war, Huang Yao's mission in art was to practice the past, research the new and create long lasting fruits of culture. In paintings, his innovative works spanned traditional Chinese categories, to more abstract works that rivaled his Western counterparts; all carrying his unique 'upside down' calligraphy or Chuyun Shu (rising cloud writing) that conveyed the air of a child's energy and his passion for life.
Biography 
Biography
Born into a Shanghai literati family,Huang was schooled in Chinese calligraphy, painting, history, literature, philology and philosophy from a young age. These were themes which he explored, mixed and continually challenged in his artistic endeavours. He achieved acclaim during his early life, due to his beloved cartoon character Niubizi, star of the Golden period of Chinese cartoons (1930s contemporary art movement) and during the Sino-Japanese war. Huang Yao himself was a well- known patriotic artist during the national struggle in the Resistance War.
Huang Yao’s trademark lively brush strokes are evident throughout his diverse collection of work – from his traditional Chinese genres to more abstract pieces rivalling Western counterparts – revealing his optimistic view of the world. His signature ‘upside down’ calligraphy or chuyun shu (rising clouds writing) captures his childlike spirit and infectious zest for life. An artist and educator, Huang Yao lived in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, which led him to freely paint a diverse range of subject matters that he explored with Chinese ink.
Inspired by the changing vistas, political and cultural climates and life stages, Huang Yao constantly redefined his artistic language, enabling us to categorise his vast body of work into three distinct periods: cartoon, scholar and painter periods. It was only after his death in 1987 that his family, and the world, began to realise the scope of his work and discover the breadth of his talent.
Artist Statement
"An artist must learn the skills and aspirations of the old masters, study what is available in the world, and then create something new yet enduring to be enjoyed by all in peace and prosperity.” – Huang Yao
Collections
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, United Kingdom. (Prof. Michael Sullivan, Oxford University)
British Museum, London, United Kingdom
Malayan Banking Berhad, Malaysia.
National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
National University of Singapore Museum, Singapore
National Visual Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation, Singapore
Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China
Singapore Art Museum (National Art Gallery of Singapore), Singapore
Huang Yao’s trademark lively brush strokes are evident throughout his diverse collection of work – from his traditional Chinese genres to more abstract pieces rivalling Western counterparts – revealing his optimistic view of the world. His signature ‘upside down’ calligraphy or chuyun shu (rising clouds writing) captures his childlike spirit and infectious zest for life. An artist and educator, Huang Yao lived in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, which led him to freely paint a diverse range of subject matters that he explored with Chinese ink.
Inspired by the changing vistas, political and cultural climates and life stages, Huang Yao constantly redefined his artistic language, enabling us to categorise his vast body of work into three distinct periods: cartoon, scholar and painter periods. It was only after his death in 1987 that his family, and the world, began to realise the scope of his work and discover the breadth of his talent.
Artist Statement
"An artist must learn the skills and aspirations of the old masters, study what is available in the world, and then create something new yet enduring to be enjoyed by all in peace and prosperity.” – Huang Yao
Collections
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, United Kingdom. (Prof. Michael Sullivan, Oxford University)
British Museum, London, United Kingdom
Malayan Banking Berhad, Malaysia.
National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
National University of Singapore Museum, Singapore
National Visual Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation, Singapore
Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China
Singapore Art Museum (National Art Gallery of Singapore), Singapore
Exhibitions
Exhibitions
2013
“Huang Yao: Malaya’s Remarkable Guest”, National Visual Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2011
“Rediscovered Talent: Huang Yao - Cartoonist | Scholar | Painter”, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China.
2008
“Exhibition in Commemoration of Huang Yao”, Soka Gakkai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2001
“Huang Yao Retrospective”, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore.
2000
“Huang Yao’s Calligraphy and Paintings”, Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1987
“Huang Yao Retrospective”, Malaysian Institute of Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“Huang Yao’s Calligraphy and Painting”, Art House Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1986
“Huang Yao: Painting on Pottery”, Association of Chung Hwa High School (Seremban) Alumni, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1985
“Huang Yao’s Calligraphy and Paintings”, Malaysian Writers Association for Scholarship Funds, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1982
“Huang Yao’s Art”, Bethlehem Lions Club, USA.
1981
“Huang Yao’s Art”, Moravian College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA.
“Folklore, Calligraphy and Art”, Art House Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1980
“Huang Yao: Exhibition of Eastern Paintings”, East & West Art, Melbourne, Australia.
1978
“Huang Yao Painting Exhibition”, Ipoh, Malaysia
1975
“Calligraphy and Art”, Sanjiang Association, Singapore
.
1957
“Niubizi Education Cartoons”, Merdeka Trade Fair, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
1956
“Niubizi Education Cartoon Exhibition”, ChinWu Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“Huang Yao: Cartoons, Calligraphy, Paintings”, Organised by the Chinese Cultural Organisation, British Council, Singapore. All proceeds from sale were donated to the Singapore Overseas Chinese Creche.
1950
“Niubizi in Hong Kong and Words of a Child”, Hong Kong.
1947
“The Contradiction Collection and the Vietnamese Scenes”, Guangzhou Restaurant, Guangzhou, China.
“The Contradiction Collection and the Vietnamese Scenes”, Zhongshan Library, Guangzhou, China.
“The Contradiction Collection and the Vietnamese Scenes”, Junri Building, Xingwen Bank, Kunming, China.
1944
Exhibition in Kunming, China in September.
“Kunming in Cartoons, Guilin in Cartoons and Others”, Guiyang, China.
“Chinese People in Wartime”, YMCA, Kunming, China. Proceeds to build Wu Hua Middle School Dormitory.
“Kunming in Cartoons and Guilin in Cartoons”, Provincial Party Headquarters, Kunming, China. Sponsored by Returned Veterans of Overseas Wars.
1943
“Plum Blossoms” by Huang Yao with poems inscribed by Liu Yazi, on twenty of Huang Yao’s paintings, Guilin, China
“Chongqing in Cartoons, Guiyang in Cartoons, Guilin in Cartoons, The Secondary Capital in Cartoons”, City Party Headquarters, Guilin, China. Proceeds for the maintenance of orphanages.
1942
“Guiyang in Cartoons” or “Scenes of Guizhou”, Guiyang, China. Proceeds donated for the city’s art and culture fund.
“Chinese People in Wartime”, Guiyang, China. Proceeds donated to the homeless.
“100 Longevity Deities”, Guiyang, China.
1939
“Niubizi Digging War Trenches”, a play by An Er, China.
1938
“Niubizi Resisting the Enemy Cartoon Exhibition”, Chongqing, China.
“Huang Yao: Malaya’s Remarkable Guest”, National Visual Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2011
“Rediscovered Talent: Huang Yao - Cartoonist | Scholar | Painter”, Shanghai Art Museum, Shanghai, China.
2008
“Exhibition in Commemoration of Huang Yao”, Soka Gakkai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2001
“Huang Yao Retrospective”, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore.
2000
“Huang Yao’s Calligraphy and Paintings”, Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1987
“Huang Yao Retrospective”, Malaysian Institute of Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“Huang Yao’s Calligraphy and Painting”, Art House Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1986
“Huang Yao: Painting on Pottery”, Association of Chung Hwa High School (Seremban) Alumni, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1985
“Huang Yao’s Calligraphy and Paintings”, Malaysian Writers Association for Scholarship Funds, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1982
“Huang Yao’s Art”, Bethlehem Lions Club, USA.
1981
“Huang Yao’s Art”, Moravian College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA.
“Folklore, Calligraphy and Art”, Art House Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1980
“Huang Yao: Exhibition of Eastern Paintings”, East & West Art, Melbourne, Australia.
1978
“Huang Yao Painting Exhibition”, Ipoh, Malaysia
1975
“Calligraphy and Art”, Sanjiang Association, Singapore
.
1957
“Niubizi Education Cartoons”, Merdeka Trade Fair, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
1956
“Niubizi Education Cartoon Exhibition”, ChinWu Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“Huang Yao: Cartoons, Calligraphy, Paintings”, Organised by the Chinese Cultural Organisation, British Council, Singapore. All proceeds from sale were donated to the Singapore Overseas Chinese Creche.
1950
“Niubizi in Hong Kong and Words of a Child”, Hong Kong.
1947
“The Contradiction Collection and the Vietnamese Scenes”, Guangzhou Restaurant, Guangzhou, China.
“The Contradiction Collection and the Vietnamese Scenes”, Zhongshan Library, Guangzhou, China.
“The Contradiction Collection and the Vietnamese Scenes”, Junri Building, Xingwen Bank, Kunming, China.
1944
Exhibition in Kunming, China in September.
“Kunming in Cartoons, Guilin in Cartoons and Others”, Guiyang, China.
“Chinese People in Wartime”, YMCA, Kunming, China. Proceeds to build Wu Hua Middle School Dormitory.
“Kunming in Cartoons and Guilin in Cartoons”, Provincial Party Headquarters, Kunming, China. Sponsored by Returned Veterans of Overseas Wars.
1943
“Plum Blossoms” by Huang Yao with poems inscribed by Liu Yazi, on twenty of Huang Yao’s paintings, Guilin, China
“Chongqing in Cartoons, Guiyang in Cartoons, Guilin in Cartoons, The Secondary Capital in Cartoons”, City Party Headquarters, Guilin, China. Proceeds for the maintenance of orphanages.
1942
“Guiyang in Cartoons” or “Scenes of Guizhou”, Guiyang, China. Proceeds donated for the city’s art and culture fund.
“Chinese People in Wartime”, Guiyang, China. Proceeds donated to the homeless.
“100 Longevity Deities”, Guiyang, China.
1939
“Niubizi Digging War Trenches”, a play by An Er, China.
1938
“Niubizi Resisting the Enemy Cartoon Exhibition”, Chongqing, China.
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