WHAT
Born in 1921 in Beijing into a scholarly family, Zao Wou-ki (1921-1913) studied under Lin Fengmian (1900-1991), the pioneer of modern Chinese painting. In 1948, he left for Paris where he spent most of his artistic career. Discovering the works of Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso, Jean Dubuffet, and Jackson Pollock, he turned to abstraction. His fifth solo exhibition at the gallery, the exhibition traces Zao’s extensive career from 1949-2004. The comprehensive presentation includes oil paintings, ink paintings, watercolours and prints, and is the last in a series that the gallery has organised to marks its year-long 40th anniversary celebration

WHY
Zao Wou-ki is one of those masters whose works never cease to awe. Although he worked in the Western medium for 20 years, producing some of his most prolific work, he gradually returned to ink painting in the early 1970s. Rare for so many of his works to be presented together, the retrospective explores his creative journey, providing a comprehensive overview of his development of style and evolution. Also on display are a selection of archival material highlighting the longstanding friendship between the gallery and artist.