Mao Illustrations

These illustrations were produced for a documentary on Mao. They are collage photo-image manipulations.

Chinese New Year calendars use images of 'Happy Babies' to symbolise regeneration and growth. The babies are usually chubby and cheerful, indicating that they are well-fed and full of hope - important ideas for a country that periodically suffers drought and war. Other symbols used in the pictures are flowers, again to demonstrate growth and fecundity; fishing for carp which symbolises wealth; and peaches to symbolise longevity.

During the Communist era, the calendar images were infused with propaganda, the Happy Babies would soar above newly built buildings, travel into space, carry guns and plan major new cities.

During the Communist era Mao's image adorned walls all over the country. The propaganda of the era was so pervasive and so relentlessly cheerful that it seems ridiculous today. The satirical Happy Baby Maos exaggerate the image of Mao as a benign force, 'the great leader' and 'hero of the people'. The lovable, chubby Mao Baby is held up in contrast to the memory of the tyranical and ruthless leader.

(These images may not be used without permission.)