HUANG YONGYU (1924-2023)
Spring Sorrow is just like the Southern Riverbank
Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and colour on paper
69 x 137.5 cm. (27 ¹⁄₈ x 54 ¹⁄₈ in.)
Entitled, inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated 3 February, 1989
Dedicated to Mr Wang Xinxiang (Mark Wang) and Ms Wang Lisu (Allison Wang)

Acquired directly from the artist as a gift in 1989.

Mr Mark Wang, Chief Executive Officer of the Museum of Chinese Australian History in Melbourne, was born in Australia and is a fourth-generation Chinese Australian. He is also one of the founders of the museum, established in 1985 and has since become the largest institution dedicated to the Chinese community in Australia.

In February 1989, Huang Yongyu was invited to hold a solo exhibition at the museum, showcasing his remarkable works and fostering cultural exchange between China and Australia. During his stay in Melbourne, Huang Yongyu was warmly hosted by Mr Mark Wang and his wife, Mrs Allison Wang, who accompanied him in exploring the city and experiencing Australian culture and lifestyle.

This painting was presented by Huang Yongyu to the couple as a farewell gift upon his departure from Melbourne—a gesture rich in meaning and a testament to their friendship and cultural exchange.