Perhaps many would remember the ubiquitous mascot "Fuwa" as the symbol of the well-received 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. But not many would recall the person behind it, Han Meilin, who has just unveiled his new series of rooster drawings in time for the Chinese New Year.
Han, proudly showing his drawings, heralded the rooster as a symbol of happiness and good fortune in Chinese culture. His studio in the Tongzhou district of Beijing is currently home to a massive collection of roosters painted on framed canvases.
Han's roosters are the subject of a new series of stamps released in time for the Chinese New Year. A price of 2.4 yuan would give buyers two items of the magnificently drawn roosters, which are good enough to serve as fodder for anyone's stamp collections, Xinhua reported.
Traditional Chinese painting techniques are prevalent in Han's rooster creations, one that can be described as a far cry from the kiddie nature of what could be his most recognizable work that graced the Beijing Olympics. Themes about family and honor are prevalent throughout Han's rooster paintings.
The spirited nature of Han's roosters was borne out of his preference for the ink-wash method of drawing, a native in East Asian art. Various positions expose the glory of roosters as positive symbols of hope as the Lunar New Year looms over.
China Post currently features five of Han's rooster paintings, and will be distributed in time for the Spring Festival festivities. Han's penchant for drawing zodiac animals first started when the state stamp maker featured his pig stamp designs for the Chinese New Year in 1983.
Gao Shan, China Post's distribution manager, said that designs coming from the likes of Han have brought a great deal of prosperity for China's post industry. At the same time, such has helped institutionalize the Chinese zodiac as among the world's most recognizable cultural facets associated with China.
Watch a report of Han Meilin's exhibition at the National Museum of China from CCTV English below: