Huang Kai preferred a line-drawing illustration style popular in the early 20th century Chinese comic books to describe the social backdrop of the 80's, concentrated on his own story in his memory.

From Huang Kai's works, one can see the extensions of a "homeland", such as street blocks, neighborhoods, fellow townsmen and an imagination of the previous generations about the "neighborhood" relations; the works also embody a sense of soberness of an onlooker. However, the events and time frames in the paintings, the faulty juxtaposition and contradictions between memories and regions, rendering this "throwback" a combination of melancholy and sweet sentiments. Even though the narrator maintained his cynical stance against this misplaced longing, he did not measure up to Aristophanes's polemical satires. This was the inclination of "nostalgic narratives" in modern mainland culture.

- Celebrating the 3rd Anniversary of Chinese New Year Fine Art Print Festival

- Xu Hong, Deputy Director,
  Curatorial & Research Department
  National Art Museum of China