WHAT
The French-Chinese artist (b. 1956) is regarded as one of the most groundbreaking contemporary artists to emerge from China after the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). As part of French May Arts Festival, this exhibition documents the artist’s personal and artistic reflections spanning 45 years. It features the premiere the ‘Soy Sauce Drawing’ series in Hong Kong, alongside previously unseen works from the ‘Tale of the 11th Day’ series as well as the renowned series, ‘Hundred Layers of Ink: For Bada’.

Currently, the ‘Tale of the 11th Day’ series is being displayed at the M+ group exhibition titled ‘Shanshui: Echoes and Signals’ in Hong Kong.

WHY
The artist’s practice is an exploration of the concept of the ‘Aesthetics of Disaster’, deeply rooted in traditional Chinese calligraphy, aesthetics, and thought, while being presented in a contemporary context. From his renowned ‘Soy Sauce Drawings’ in 1988, featuring geometric patterns inspired by archaeological materials, to his internationally acclaimed ‘Hundred Layers of Ink’ series, his works represent a form of self-cultivation, marking a pivotal theme in his artistic practice — the contemplation of what it means to create an abstract work of art with contrasting themes.