That so-called 'past' in our memories, was an era of red idealism, it is actually not that far away at all from our lives today. The 'Red Five Star' is the icon representing red China, and is still inextricably intermingled with our 'today', writes Zhu Yiyong. 'The Memories of China Series' is filled with my striving for the spirit of care in humanity. Through the innocent eyes of the children, I want to link yesterday, today and tomorrow, and to find a new way to interpret our past, present, ideology and reality. (The artist’s statement, “Zhu Yiyong in Memories of China: Artworks by Zhu Yiyong”, Schoeni Art Gallery Ltd., Hong Kong, 2011, p. 9)

After years of creativeness, Zhu Yiyong decided to express his concern over issues of reality in contemporary society. He then started another remarkable series of work, entitled “Memories”. Zhu has portrayed people from different social classes, ranging from schoolyard children, peasants, cosmopolitan beauties to working laborers, etc. He also employed the motif of the children’s game Cat’s Cradle that is a recollection of China’s most famous symbol in the History of Culture Revolution to reminisce on the non-materialistic memories that had gradually faded from people’s field of vision. Through these means, the forgotten part of Chinese history and the collective memories of people are now being reinterpreted.