《Ding Cong Comics》 Series Antiquated Illustrations (1)

Author: Ding Conghui
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: I first met Xiao Ding in 1932. I was working as a scriptwriter at the Mingxing Film Company and made some friends in the art world. It was either Hu Kao or Guangyu who introduced me to him, but I can no longer remember. He had already made a name for himself in the comic world at that time, pioneering the use of fine-line painting in comics, which left a deep impression on me. One of his close friends told me, "It's genetic, because his father Ding Song was a renowned fine-line painter in Jiangnan during the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China." I and Xiao Ding became close friends who could talk about anything after the War of Resistance. From the war to the liberation of the country, it was an era of great social upheaval, with the world in turmoil. This was also the period when Xiao Ding was most prolific in his art. He was an artist, not a social activist, but he had a kind heart and keen insight into the flaws of the times. Comics and essays were like dagger-like weapons, and Xiao Ding used his skillful hands to expose and satirize the tragic, lamentable, and ridiculous phenomena of that era and society. His works were seemingly light but deeply profound, revealing the bigger picture in the small details. Every drawing made readers smile with a sense of bitter understanding—this is what Buddhists call "striking the nail right on the head." Xiao Ding was a natural optimist. Even during the difficult years of the war, and when he was exiled to the Beidahuang in 1957 for unjust treatment, he still maintained a cheerful demeanor, rarely seen with a frown. He was always willing to help others without thinking of himself. Newspapers and magazines often asked him to draw cartoons, design covers, or create portraits, and he almost always said yes. The portraits at the head of articles in the Reading magazine were all his work. Counting the years, he has been engaged in cartooning for more than half a century, leaving behind records of this extraordinary era with his skillful brush. I am very happy to learn that the Ding Conghui Comic Series is about to be published, because through these drawings, we can not only see this era and society but also the artist's style and character. I am delighted to meet people like him and enjoy his art. I have written these words to express my heartfelt sentiments as a friend.