In mid-month, Sotheby’s Hong Kong will present a series of three important auctions, with the “Beyond Limits: Modern Art Evening Sale” (April 18 at 6:30 pm) being the highlight. Sotheby’s confirmed yesterday that this auction will be led by a very rare Zao Wou-Ki “Wild Grass Series” – the monumental work “13.02.62” named after Zao Wou-Ki’s own birth date – witnessing this abstract master’s ascent to the peak of creation, with unique commemorative and artistic value.
The series of works during the “Mad Grass Period” has always been the pinnacle of this contemporary giant’s creative work. This time, the piece “13.02.62” was completed on the birthday of Zao Wou-Ki, as the name suggests. Moreover, this piece is the first work named after this date, indicating its preciousness. It is worth noting that February 13 is the eve of Valentine’s Day, and Zao Wou-Ki, at that time, changed his usual use of deep colors as the main theme of his paintings. Instead, on this special day, he splashed with a festive and vibrant red tone, creating a full sense of blessing. It is understood that Zao Wou-Ki completed this work with the intimate support of his wife Meiqin. The large-scale composition encompasses everything, sometimes resembling a fairy crane appearing suddenly, and sometimes like the ever-changing chaos of the primordial world. The large flames of fiery red color evoke thoughts of passion, love, and strength.
It is worth noting that the completion of the same series on February 13, 1962 is only recorded in a few instances, indicating the rarity of “13.02.62”. In addition, the publication and exhibition records of “13.02.62” are particularly crucial. The artwork was not only exhibited at the Linz LENTOS Art Museum in 2003 as part of the “Paris 1945-1965” exhibition, but also included in important art history books such as “Art of the Twentieth Century”, bearing witness to Zao Wou-Ki’s rise to become one of the international masters of modern art.
The creation of the “Wild Grass” period can actually be traced back to the 1950s, when Zao Wou-Ki embarked on a global tour, absorbing artistic nutrients from various Western locations. It wasn’t until around 1957 when he began the “Oracle Bone” series and thus made a name for himself in the Western art world. Later on, he visited the art capitals of Paris and New York, where he met several Western artists. He was particularly drawn to the works of Barnett Newman and Mark Rothko, which inspired him to abandon all previous painting techniques, paving the way for the bold, dynamic, and lively unique abstract painting style that we see today. Since 1959, Zao Wou-Ki officially embarked on the peak of the “Wild Grass” period, achieving a contemporary legend in the art world.
The reason why the “Mad Grass Period” is so revered is not only because it shows the confidence and boldness of Zhao Wuji sweeping the world and soaring in the sky on the canvas, but also highlights the personal spirit of this contemporary giant who has rediscovered Chinese artistic traditions and explored his fate in the Western art world. Growing up alone in Western culture, then being immersed in the struggles of life and emotions, and thus gaining an unprecedented artistic perspective, this mixed feelings of life at that time can be said to be very rare, but at the same time extremely precious.
It is precisely because Zao Wou-Ki experienced such circumstances that he became one of the few painting masters recognized universally in both the East and the West.
圖片來源：Courtesy of Sotheby’s Hong Kong
