Related News
Home
» City specials
» Hangzhou
A museum with a comical outlook
By Wang Jie |
June 18, 2009, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Hangzhou has long been famous for its scenery, its mountains, lakes and greenery. And now Chu Teh-yung, the famous Taiwanese cartoonist, is going to bring a humorous touch to the peaceful city.
The Chu Teh-yung Comic Museum, the first of its kind on the Chinese mainland, will be built in Hangzhou over the next few years in a project backed by the Hangzhou government. The foundation stone for the museum was laid during the Fifth China International Cartoon & Animation Festival in April.
"We have been given for free an area of nearly 2,000 square meters," says Zhao Congmin, the director of Beijing Dianxing Culture & Communication Corp, the sole agent for Chu's business on the Chinese mainland. "The three-story building will cover about 5,000 square meters. A lot of Chu's art, ranging from sketches and books to multi-media pieces, will be on display."
Chu, a Taiwan native, became famous on the island in the 1990s when he sold more than a million copies of his comic books. He then expanded his career into the mainland and established himself as one of the best-selling comic artists with sales of more than 10 million.
Chu's fans love his comic books which are loaded with observations on modern life, marriage and the relationships between men and women.
The most popular figures in Chu's comics are his "Pink Ladies," four single women who share an apartment in Taipei and struggle to balance loves, careers and their independence as they live in a modern city. A sexy hearthrob, an aggressive career woman, an unpolished ordinary family girl and a smart witty girl, all encounter men with different backgrounds and characters. The stories reflect the subtle relationships between men and women in urban life.
"His humor and attitude are sometimes cool and inspiring, revealing things we wouldn't dare to say even in front of our spouses and lovers," Zhao says. "Perhaps that's why he is so popular in Chinese communities around the world."
The museum will be near the Baima (White Horse) Lake, an area that the Hangzhou government wants to turn into a comic book industry hub.
"In the near future, Chu's comic museum will become one of the city's cultural landmarks," Zhao adds.
Many are curious about the way the comic museum will show its style and wonder how it will be able to preserve a sense of humor.
"Yes, this is very important," Zhao says. "Chu Teh-yung once said that humor is a rare gift given by God to mankind, and the way the building will be designed will also be like a gift from God."
The project is said to have a budget of around US$40 million.
"We are not sure when the museum will be finished, perhaps in a few years," Zhao says. "Of course, Chu himself will be spending more time in Hangzhou."
According to Zhao, Chu loves the romantic and relaxing air in Hangzhou.
"It matches perfectly what he wants to express in his cartoons," Zhao says. "Today people carry too many burdens. Sometimes they forget the real meaning of love, marriage and life. I am sure our comic museum will give some visitors a laugh when they see themselves facing the dilemmas that they might encounter as characters drawn by Chu."
The Chu Teh-yung Comic Museum, the first of its kind on the Chinese mainland, will be built in Hangzhou over the next few years in a project backed by the Hangzhou government. The foundation stone for the museum was laid during the Fifth China International Cartoon & Animation Festival in April.
"We have been given for free an area of nearly 2,000 square meters," says Zhao Congmin, the director of Beijing Dianxing Culture & Communication Corp, the sole agent for Chu's business on the Chinese mainland. "The three-story building will cover about 5,000 square meters. A lot of Chu's art, ranging from sketches and books to multi-media pieces, will be on display."
Chu, a Taiwan native, became famous on the island in the 1990s when he sold more than a million copies of his comic books. He then expanded his career into the mainland and established himself as one of the best-selling comic artists with sales of more than 10 million.
Chu's fans love his comic books which are loaded with observations on modern life, marriage and the relationships between men and women.
The most popular figures in Chu's comics are his "Pink Ladies," four single women who share an apartment in Taipei and struggle to balance loves, careers and their independence as they live in a modern city. A sexy hearthrob, an aggressive career woman, an unpolished ordinary family girl and a smart witty girl, all encounter men with different backgrounds and characters. The stories reflect the subtle relationships between men and women in urban life.
"His humor and attitude are sometimes cool and inspiring, revealing things we wouldn't dare to say even in front of our spouses and lovers," Zhao says. "Perhaps that's why he is so popular in Chinese communities around the world."
The museum will be near the Baima (White Horse) Lake, an area that the Hangzhou government wants to turn into a comic book industry hub.
"In the near future, Chu's comic museum will become one of the city's cultural landmarks," Zhao adds.
Many are curious about the way the comic museum will show its style and wonder how it will be able to preserve a sense of humor.
"Yes, this is very important," Zhao says. "Chu Teh-yung once said that humor is a rare gift given by God to mankind, and the way the building will be designed will also be like a gift from God."
The project is said to have a budget of around US$40 million.
"We are not sure when the museum will be finished, perhaps in a few years," Zhao says. "Of course, Chu himself will be spending more time in Hangzhou."
According to Zhao, Chu loves the romantic and relaxing air in Hangzhou.
"It matches perfectly what he wants to express in his cartoons," Zhao says. "Today people carry too many burdens. Sometimes they forget the real meaning of love, marriage and life. I am sure our comic museum will give some visitors a laugh when they see themselves facing the dilemmas that they might encounter as characters drawn by Chu."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
