ZAO WOU-KI (1920-2013) LA HUNE / ZAO WOU - KI / AQUARELLES CÉRAMIQUES LITHOGRAPHIES. 1956. 23 1/2x16 inches, 59 3/4x40 1/2 cm. Condition A. Paper. Beijing-born Zao Wou-Ki studied under one of the most prominent modern Chinese painters, Lin Fengmian, and worked for five years as an art teacher before relocating to Paris. He spent his formative years strongly influenced by the Impressionists, Expressionists and Contemporary artists of post-war Europe. Once he visited New York, he became exposed to the Abstract Expressionists of the late 1950s, embracing bold work on larger canvases and incorporating abstraction with dynamic gestures of Chinese calligraphy. He eventually transitioned to more atmospheric, rather than linear, compositions. In 2002, when he was in his 70s, Zao Wou-Ki was elected to join the French Academy of Fine Arts, signaling his prominence across Eastern and Western cultures. His multi-cultural appeal is further bolstered by his close friendships with artists such as Giacometti, Joan Mitchell, Miró and Sam Francis. This poster advertises an exhibition of his works at the iconic Parisian bookstore, La Hune.
