Zao Wou-Ki
Date of birth : 1921
Country : china
In 1951, Zao Wou-ki « tends towards an imaginary, undecipherable expression”. In non figurative paintings, he mixes Chinese and European traditions, and states: “Cezanne taught me how to find myself, as a Chinese painter.” Using oil canvas, he makes series of abstract landscapes from where emanates a genuine poetry.
Henri Michaux wrote about them : “To display, and to conceal at the same time, to break the line and make it quiver, to draw the roundabouts of a stroll and the scribblings of the dreamy spirit, here is what Zao Wou-ki likes to do, and all of a sudden, with the same celebrating manner of the Chinese countrysides and villages, the painting appears, joyfully trembling and a bit funny, in a grove made of signs.”
Since the 70’s, he has been working on a series of prints, Chinese ink calligraphies for which he uses Chinese traditional techniques learnt in China.