“Zao Wou-Ki” is a name that has swept through the art world. As an important painter in the mid to late 20th century, Zao was well-versed in both Eastern and Western art. His bold and unrestrained style, characterized by strong lines and high color saturation, has garnered much attention. His unique abstract style has been highly regarded, and his works have achieved great success in the auction market. This June, the Alisan Fine Arts Gallery, which has a long-standing friendship with the artist, is presenting the “Zao Wou-Ki” exhibition, showcasing his 40 years of work.
The exhibition covers Zhao’s professional career from the 1950s to the 1990s, including oil paintings, ink wash paintings, watercolors, and prints. Among them, we can see Western-style oil paintings with Eastern elements dating back to the oracle bone script period. At that time, Zhao settled in France, delving deep into the artistic language of Western oil painting while not forgetting the cultural foundation of Chinese art. The ancient and vast majestic momentum is deeply moving.
Over the next 20 years, his work focused on the use of Western media, returning to ink painting in 1971. Therefore, the exhibition also showcases later ink treasures. There are also works of lithography and metal engraving, reflecting the artist’s artistic development at different stages, from the early poetic figurative style to the thought-provoking abstract painting style in later years can also be seen in the exhibition.
It is worth mentioning that this is the fifth time that the Art Advocacy Gallery has held a solo exhibition for Zao Wou-Ki. Before Zao gained attention in Asia, the gallery had already exhibited his paintings in the 1980s, showcasing a series of rare early oil and watercolor paintings by Zao. In 2003, the gallery held his first major retrospective exhibition in France. As a result, the gallery intentionally displayed letters, event photos, exhibition leaflets, and other items from the past of the artist and founder Jin Dongjian to commemorate the gallery’s deep friendship with him.
It is rare to be able to appreciate the different styles of this artistic master’s works at the exhibition, art lovers must not miss it!
Zao Wou-Ki Exhibition
Date: From now until September 9 (Closed on Sundays)
Time: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Location: Artify Gallery, 21/F, 1 Flower Street, Central, Hong Kong
Image source and learn more: Alisan Gallery
