.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
More than sixty years ago, the story of a Uyghur farmer named Kurban Tulum (1883–1975), who wished to ride his donkey to Beijing to visit Chairman Mao, spread widely across China.
A farmer from Xinjiang, Kurban Tulum lived in poverty until his life changed when the People’s Liberation Army redistributed land and property to him. Through hard work, he became a model farmer. To express his gratitude, he longed to ride his donkey to Beijing to meet Chairman Mao. With the help of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region’s Party Secretary, Kurban Tulum was invited to Beijing as a national labor model. On June 28, 1958, he was warmly received by Chairman Mao at Zhongnanhai, and people affectionately called him “Uncle Kurban.”
Between 1956 and 1976, Huang Zhou repeatedly painted “Uncle Kurban” in various compositions. The present work, Day and Night Thinking of Chairman Mao, is the final version of this theme. With flowing lines and vibrant colors, Huang Zhou vividly captured Kurban’s sincerity and exuberance, as well as his deep longing for Beijing and Chairman Mao.
The painting was signed and dated September 8, 1976—just one day before Chairman Mao’s passing. After receiving the heartbreaking news, Huang Zhou inscribed the title Day and Night Thinking of Chairman Mao on the artwork. On September 11, Zhao Puchu invited Huang Zhou to attend the memorial service, where he added a dedication on the right side of the painting:
“As I unroll this painting, tears blur my vision.
I lift my brush, but my grief makes the words unsteady. Kurban Tulum, our hearts are together,
Day and night, thinking of Chairman Mao.”
A farmer from Xinjiang, Kurban Tulum lived in poverty until his life changed when the People’s Liberation Army redistributed land and property to him. Through hard work, he became a model farmer. To express his gratitude, he longed to ride his donkey to Beijing to meet Chairman Mao. With the help of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region’s Party Secretary, Kurban Tulum was invited to Beijing as a national labor model. On June 28, 1958, he was warmly received by Chairman Mao at Zhongnanhai, and people affectionately called him “Uncle Kurban.”
Between 1956 and 1976, Huang Zhou repeatedly painted “Uncle Kurban” in various compositions. The present work, Day and Night Thinking of Chairman Mao, is the final version of this theme. With flowing lines and vibrant colors, Huang Zhou vividly captured Kurban’s sincerity and exuberance, as well as his deep longing for Beijing and Chairman Mao.
The painting was signed and dated September 8, 1976—just one day before Chairman Mao’s passing. After receiving the heartbreaking news, Huang Zhou inscribed the title Day and Night Thinking of Chairman Mao on the artwork. On September 11, Zhao Puchu invited Huang Zhou to attend the memorial service, where he added a dedication on the right side of the painting:
“As I unroll this painting, tears blur my vision.
I lift my brush, but my grief makes the words unsteady. Kurban Tulum, our hearts are together,
Day and night, thinking of Chairman Mao.”