Zao Wou-Ki: Art without Border

12    September – 21 October 2024

“The idea of throwing some color on a large porous white stone, as on paper, appealed to me.”

Zao Wou-Ki

In a world where cultural boundaries are continuously blurred and redefined, Villepin presents an exhibition that explores the artistic universe of Zao Wou-Ki, offering a journey through his illustrious career full of works that bridge Eastern and Western aesthetic traditions.

The exhibition will showcase Zao Wou-Ki’s deep engagement with various mediums and techniques, including a diverse range of printmaking methods, watercolors on paper, and ceramic and porcelain painting, each illustrating the fluidity and curiosity that define his career and confirm his status as a master of abstract expressionism. Lithographs, etchings, and serigraphs play a significant role in his body of work, offering a unique approach to composition and texture while allowing Zao Wou-Ki to produce limited editions of his art, opening up access to a wider audience. His extensive travels across various countries and diverse cultural experiences are seamlessly integrated into his visual language. This exhibition will closely examine the profound connections he succeeded in creating with select places and how these attachments are expressed in his work.

Zao Wou-Ki, Gaudigny - April 2007 (2007), Serigraph, 112 x 161 cm, Edition 2/8

The ground floor is dedicated to Zao Wou-Ki’s time in Ibiza. While based in Paris, Zao Wou-Ki spent several months each year on the serene Spanish island and built one studio there, based on the architectural plans of Josep Lluís Sert. Over his visits to Ibiza, the island deeply influenced Zao Wou-Ki’s vibrant and abstract artistic works.

The first floor is themed around Zao Wou-Ki’s mastery of printmaking, an important area within Zao Wou-Ki’s oeuvre. This floor showcases his innovative use of colors and forms, highlighting how his interactions with fellow artists in Paris shaped his printmaking creations. The artist’s work showcases his creative evolution, transitioning from an early poetic figurative style to a more thought-provoking abstract painting style in his later years.

The second floor transports visitors to Gaudigny, Zao Wou-Ki’s second home in France. Gaudigny, located in the countryside near Paris, served as a second, larger studio for Zao Wou-Ki from the mid 1980’s until the 2000’s. There he also painted watercolours that have been transposed in lithographs. The exhibited works from both his Paris and Gaudigny studios highlight his limited editions cultural and artistic influences, and put into the spotlight the time-consuming and intricate techniques of serigraphic printing. Embodying the essence of Zao Wou-Ki’s artistic evolution during this period, they reflect both his personal experiences and broader artistic movements.

“My work is an exploration of the universe, where art is both a reflection and a revelation,” Zao Wou-Ki once remarked, encapsulating the essence of his artistic journey. This exhibition is an ode to his enduring legacy and a testament to his ability to reflect on his personal experiences and broader artistic movements.

About Villepin

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 specializes in selecting 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 worldwide. Beyond its gallery walls, Villepin also acts as a 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.

As curator and advisor to a close community of collectors, artists presented by Villepin include Zao Wou-Ki, Myonghi Kang, Anselm Kiefer, Francis Bacon, George Condo, Pierre Soulages, Georges Mathieu, and Hans Hartung among others. Villepin is focused on education and promoting the 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.

Opening Hours:

Sunday - Wednesday | 11 AM to 7 PM (By appointment only)

Thursday - Saturday | 11 AM to 7 PM (Open to Public)

Monday | Closed

Address: 53-55 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong

Press Contact: April Yau | Communication | april.y@artdevivre-group.com

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