Han Meilin

Han Meilin (; born December 26, 1936, in Jinan, Shandong ) is a Chinese artist most recognized today for his creation of the Fuwa dolls for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Biography In 1955 he was admitted to the Central Academy of arts and design , now part of Tsinghua University. In 1960 he graduated.

Career

Han was involved in the design of the statue of Guan Yu in Jingzhou. In 1979, Han was elected to the China Artists Association . He has also published influential work such as Baoguo Sanwen (, Bāoguò Sǎnwén). In 1980, he was in the United States, holding art exhibitions in 21 cities including Boston and New York City. He was given the key to the city of San Diego as an honorary citizen and the city of Manhattan declared October 1, 1980 as Han Meilin Day. In 1983 six of his work were printed on Christmas cards issued by the United Nations. He also gave lectures at Harvard University.

Throughout his career, he has published painting albums as Meilin's Paintings, Art Works of Han Meilin, Mountain Flowers in Full Bloom, Still on the Earth, 100-chicken Paintings, Painting Collection of Han Meilin and Selection of Arts and Crafts Works of Han Meilin. He was once the art designer of paper-cutting cartoons such as Fox Capturing Hunter, Fox Sending Grapes and Hide-and-seek. He also designed the pig postal stamps for China in 1983, panda stamps for 1985 and the phoenix logo for Air China.

On October 15, 2015, at the UNESCO Headquarters, he was named the UNESCO Artist For Peace. "In recognition of his long-term commitment to promoting art and artistic education in China, his support to providing quality education to young people, notably through projects led by the Han Meilin Art Foundation, and his dedication to the ideals and aims of the Organization." He has also announced plans to donate a 7-meter-tall bronze statue entitled Guardian of Peace, to UNESCO on the occasion of the Organization's 70th anniversary.

He was also involved in the design of the colossal statue of Guan Yu in Jingzhou, Hubei.