Zao Wou-Ki: L'espace est Silence, Exhibition, The Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville, Paris: 1 June 2018-6 January 2019

This dual-nationality artist perfectly encompasses the globalisation of our contemporary world as he works at the intersection of diverging cultures. The Chinese-French artist, Zao Wou-Ki (1920-2013), once remarked “Everybody is bound by a tradition. I am bound by two”. His art reflects his identity as his paintings blend together Eastern and Western artistic techniques and styles.

The exhibition begins with Wou-Ki’s more recent ‘abstract’ approach to art, which is often categorised as ‘non-representational’. This includes the 1956 painting ‘Traversée des apparences’. Wou-Ki’s art combines soft, blended backgrounds with slash-like strokes. His multi-coloured palette varies from complimentary to juxtaposing tones, and from subdued to vibrant colours. As a result, any exhibition of his work promises to be surprising and intriguing.

Wou-Ki seeks to unburden himself of the ‘landscape’ label by describing his art as a conversation with “nature”. He regards nature, as well as travel, discovery and relationships as his prominent inspiration and artistic themes. Two such relationships that made Wou-Ki the artist he is today is poet Henri Michaux and composer Edgar Varese. Poetry and music remained two permanent poles in his life, which he, and his art, orbited. Michaux was such an inspirational friend that the gallery even used one of his quotes, ‘Space is Silence’, as part of the exhibition title.

The Musee d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris wishes to celebrate the much-deserved fame and recognition that has only been recently bestowed on Wou-Ki’s complex work. They aim to place him among other great artists of the late 20th century by presenting 40 of his grand large-scale paintings. The exhibition is the first time some these rare gems will be displayed, including a collection of inks from 2006.

The Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris

The Musee d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, 12 Avenue de New York, 75116 Paris