15 March, 2012 : Niubizi Collage, 1936
First
I would like to thank Laura Pozzi, a PhD candidate for submitting this as well
as many scholars who have provided and contributed their insights to this
image. The link and corresponding writeup can be found here http://www.huangyao.org/1343.html.
I was very, very happy to see this image. I do enjoy seeing my granddad's work
pop up from time to time, especially since we do not have a full account of
what he had produced in China. This one was very "pretty" with its
patterns in the background and striking colors. I recognised the Niubizi
without arms and legs first as that is a cartoon I am familiar with, he had
done a similar one where different parts of China's territory were taken away
as if tearing away a Chinese person's limbs. I could not make out the Niubizi
with the Hitler moustache, but several scholars have confirmed that that is
Chiang Kai Shek with his well known cape but why is he stepping on the flag,
what is the significance of placing Chiang's head on one of the flower like
patterns? Who and how the missionaries fit into this collage, I am not sure.
This is the first piece of collage I have seen as a complete Niubizi piece of
art. I have not seen any later work of Huang Yao like this though he did
collect papercuts. I wonder how many more he could have done? I do know it is a
clear statement of political art from the 1930s, expressed in a medium that was
popular and contemporary at that time. Although I know the original is probably
destroyed, I am happy that a copy has survived for me to feast my eyes upon and
one day, I hope I will understand the meaning behind this collage.
