Zeng Fanzhi: From Hand to Mind

The search for identity in socially and politically evolving China characterizes Zeng Fanzhi's work. Often compared to the German Expressionists, his vivid brushstrokes have made him the most high-valued Asian artist working today (The Last Supper, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's 15th-century mural of the same name, sold for $23.3 million at a 2013 Sotheby's auction, eclipsing Takashi Murakami's My Lonesome Cowboy). While marketplace demand soars, the unassuming personality behind these coveted works is seldom seen. Filmmaker Alison Chernick captured a rare moment with Fanzhi in Paris, between openings, when the artist opened up about the value of technique and spirituality.