Summer Cicada

DING YANYONG (1902-1978)
Summer Cicada
Scroll, mounted and framed, ink on paper
31.8 x 102.3 cm. (12 ¹⁄₂ x 40 ¹⁄₄ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dated jiyou year (1969)
Dedicated to Shanxiao (Kwong Shan-Siu, 1909-1976)

Kwong Shan-Siu (1909-1976), originally from Taishan, Guangdong province, was one of the best known figures in Cantonese opera and movies in the mid-20th century. Kwong began his career in 1932 and was one of the most prolific actors in Hong Kong before WWII, having performed in more than 120 movies in his life.
Kwong was dedicated in promoting cultural exchanges between Guangdong and Hong Kong. He became friends with many second generation Lingnan artists including Zhao Shao’ang and Yang Shanshen, whom gifted paintings to him. Many works were important collaborative paintings from the 1940s. Open-minded and generous, Kwong was very well-loved and respected in the arts community.