August 8 1956: Niubizi education cartoon exhibition

Guest of Honour: Tun Abdul Razak, Malaya Education Minister

Exhibition content: 1. Son’s Education, 2. Mister Fluke, 3. Sketch Siam, 4.Malaya Niubizi, (above are not for sale)，5.China ink painting and upside down calligraphy.

Exhibition dates: 8 August – 10 August 1956 (Wednesday to Friday)

Times: Wednesday and Thursday 9am to 9pm, Friday 10am to 4pm

Venue: CHINWOO ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION SELANGOR & KUALA LUMPUR

Organizers: CHINESE SCHOOL TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION K.L.

Upside down calligraphy performance: Wednesday and Thursday 8pam to 9pm

In 1956, Huang Yao was invited to Malaya (now called Malaysia) by the education minister, Tun Abdul Razak (middle in picture; who later became Prime Minister), to help shape the country’s adult education policies. Huang Yao remembered the invitation clearly: “[Tun Razak] told me that art was a common language and therefore welcomed me to stay [t]here. I too have always believed that art is our common source of happiness.” Huang Yao once more used his most famous character as a channel for his own thoughts and experiences, creating Malaya Niubizi. In this series Niubizi wears a sarong, works with the local people, picks coconuts, collects harvests and reins bullocks to pull carts. He even holds up an umbrella in a local wedding. Throughout, Niubizi sets an example of “the harmony between difference races” his creator was so keen to promote.

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