Exhibition on Chinese comic art kicks off in Shenzhen

An exhibition on Chinese comic art kicked off at Sea World Culture and Arts Center in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province on July 20, and will last until Sept 30.

Organized chronologically, the exhibition shows the initial period of Chinese comics, the golden age of Chinese comics, the new Chinese comics influenced by foreign culture, the internationalization and digitization of Chinese comics, the independent spirit of Chinese comics, as well as Chinese comics in the age of multimedia.

More than 400 comic books by 85 Chinese cartoonists, including 73 manuscripts, are on display. Highlights include: 20 illustrations by Feng Zikai (1898-1975), a pioneer of modern Chinese comic and cartoon art; the pre-1949 comic stripSanmao Joins the Army; the manuscripts of Zhang Ding, chief designer of the 1979 animated filmPrince Nezha's Triumph Against Dragon King; as well asMonkey King Subdues the White Bone Demonby Zhao Hongben and Qian Xiaodai, a well-known comic book adaptation of the classic Chinese novelJourney to the West.

Jin Cheng, deputy director of the Animation and Art Committee of the Chinese Artists Association, said that comics are an important part of Chinese art, with a profound artistic tradition.

"There have been many fine comic works up to now, which are the country's precious cultural wealth. Through this exhibition, we hope that people will learn more about the art form of comics, as well as feel these wonderful and beautiful Chinese stories," Jin added.