This spring, Christie’s Paris presents the exhibition Zao Wou-Ki: A Calligraphic Journey, showcasing the artist’s extensive oeuvre over five decades. A master of European post-war abstraction infused with Chinese calligraphy, Zao created some of the most iconic paintings of the 20th century and his work has since enjoyed enduring interest in the market. In 2017, his work 29.01.64 set a world auction record for any oil painting by an Asian artist.
Zao’s desire to renew the calligraphy tradition and participate in the revolution of abstraction that was happening across Europe led the artist to the epicentre of the Parisian art scene. There, he was confronted by a diversity of expressions from his peers, prompting Zao to combine Eastern and Western aesthetics within his work.
In 1971, Zao Wou-Ki returned to the practice of ink painting, a Chinese medium which he had stopped since his arrival in Paris in 1948. The ink practice allowed the artist to push the limits of abstraction even further with a complete freedom and renewed spontaneity, thereafter influencing his oil painting practice.
On view in Paris from 28 April, this is an unmissable opportunity to rediscover the legacy of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century.