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Zao Wou-Ki

ZAO WOU-KI

The Eternal Return to China Villepin 1 December 2021–22 March 2022 Hong Kong
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Press Release

Villepin is delighted to announce its upcoming exhibition of the late Chinese French master Zao Wou-Ki, exploring the artist’s lifelong examination and reflection of Chinese inheritance.

Following Villepin’s inaugural exhibition with the artist in 2020, Zao Wou-Ki: The Eternal Return to China continues the gallery’s ongoing research into his life and art. This presentation aims to uncover the complex facets and layers of his artistic journey from China, around the world and ultimately, back to his native homeland. Throughout the artist’s career, his relationship with China was omnipresent and permeated his work.

This curated presentation will feature exceptional and rarely seen works, including oil paintings, ink works, and watercolors. Through research into newly discovered archive interviews with the artist, this exhibition aims to shed light on a lesser-known aspect of Zao Wou-Ki and his relationship with China, its history and culture. Although he spent most of his career in Europe, China has always been close to his heart and served as a lifelong inspiration in his work.

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About the Artist

Born in Beijing, Zao Wou-Ki (1920-2013) worked predominantly in oils, watercolor and ink, but also experimented with engraving and lithography. Wou-Ki means ‘no limits’ in Chinese – a prescient forename for an artist who em- braced different cultural identities without ever being beholden to one. In 1948, Zao relocated to Paris. The French capital was an inspiration for Zao, who had idolized Matisse and Picasso in his formative years and continued to be influenced by Western modernism and the work of the Impressionists and Expressionists.

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About the Gallery
Shaped by Dominique and Arthur de Villepin’s passion for art, Villepin is a new gallery model created by collectors for collectors. Founded in 2019 in Hong Kong, Villepin is specialized in selected important artists, estates and foundations, advocating their work through carefully curated exhibitions while bridging them with the leading collectors and institutions in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world. Beyond its gallery walls, Villepin also acts as curator for exhibitions in museums and institutions.

Each exhibition at Villepin is based on in-depth scholarship and offers a unique experience to immerse visitors in the life and art of each artist. Previous exhibitions have also produced special bilingual publications that include original essays and curatorial research. Artists presented by Villepin include Zao Wou-Ki, Myonghi Kang, Pierre Soulages, Georges Mathieu and Hans Hartung among others.

As curator and advisor to a close community of collectors, Villepin is focused on education and promoting scholarship of its artists through intimate salons and collaborations with leading institutions, foundations, universities and museums. Through their extensive experience in building close friendships with artists, the father-son partnership aims to share their expertise, encourage dialogue, and support collectors in building long-lasting relationships with artists, who are at the heart of Villepin’s initiatives.
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Address
53-55 Hollywood Road
Central
Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Opening Hours
Tuesday - Sunday (By appointment only)
11am - 7pm
(1)
Hong Kong 53-55 Hollywood Road, Central
Villepin contemporary art gallery in Hong Kong
Villepin
53-55 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
+852 3709 0913
http://www.villepinart.com

Opening hours
Tuesday - Sunday (By appointment only)
11am - 7pm
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