Born to a literati family in Shanghai, China, Huang Yao (1914-1987) received his formative education from his father in classical literati traditions and calligraphy, particularly in the archaic scripts of oracle bone and bronze inscription. In the 1930s, he gained recognition as a talented cartoonist for creating the comic character “Niu Bi Zi” which was widely used as an educational resource in schools. Huang travelled to Southeast Asia after the end of World War II in 1945, and resided in different countries before settling permanently in Malaysia in 1956. He worked primarily as an art educator until his retirement in 1973. A prolific artist, he had held 23 solo and group exhibitions and six retrospective exhibitions.One of Huang’s favourite subjects since the early days of drawing comics in the 1930s was of children playing. Executed in both Chinese ink and watercolour, this painting shows a group of highly spirited children, playing and jumping as tigers would. Titled “Hu Yue Tu” (translated as “Leaping Tigers”), this work signifies blessings for the coming year to be energetic and fruitful.
