Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 June 2009
When Cantonese cartoonist Liao Bingxiong (1915–) mounted his show, The Cat Kingdom (Maoguo chunqiu), at the Sino-Sovfet Cultural Association (Zhong-Su wenhua xiehui) in Chongqing—China's wartime capital—in March 1946, he was prompted by more than an artistic urge: He intended to issue a strong criticism of the Guomindang (Nationalist) government for its inability to deal with the country's rapidly deteriorating situation. The show was an overwhelming success, “creating a sensation in this hilly city,” in the words of one contemporary artist. The show was greeted with equal enthusiasm when it was put on later in other cities, such as Chengdu and Kunming. Such a favorable reception reflected both the artistry of Liao's works and, more important, the relevance of cartoons as a powerful tool for airing opinion.