Zao Wou-Ki

(1921-2013)

Born in Beijing in 1920, Zao Wou-ki (赵无极) is from an aristocratic and well-educated family. Enrolled into the National Hangzhou School of Art in1935, he studied traditional painting, calligraphy and meanwhile explored the western art. His first personal exhibition was held in Shanghai in 1947, right before he left for Paris. He settled in Montparnasse, studied at Academy of the Large Thatched Cottage (L’Académie de la Grande- Chaumière) and became friends with abstract artists from School of Paris (L’École de Paris). In 1949, he met the poet and painter Henri Michaux. At the very begining, he was inspired by Paul Klee’s works, he integrated imaginary ideogram to his canvas which reconcile with the traditional chinese calligraphy.

Started from 1954, he diverged himself from such influence and found a clear way on the abstract landscape that at the frontier between the East and the West. Followed the suggestions from Henri Michaux, in 1971, he returned to the techniques of traditional ink. This spontaneous and intuitive experiment allows him to express the notion of the wholeness and void thoroughly, and became a famous international artist. His works are collected by different major museums all around the world.