Untitled

“Another thing I know is that I enjoy painting more and more, that I’ve got more to say, with the ever-present fear of repeating myself. I paint my own life but I also try to paint an invisible place, that of dreams, somewhere where one feels in perfect harmony, even in the midst of agitated shapes or opposing forces. Every picture, from the smallest to the biggest, is always a fragment of that dream place.” -Zao Wou-Ki

Zao Wou-Ki created in different media throughout his artistic career. Untitled from 1961 (Lot 307) and Untitled from 1975 (Lot 308) are the best examples of this creative versatility. In these two works, Zao transposed his artistic language onto paper, where the lightness of watercolour lends a lightweight texture to the composition different from that of oil painting. Executed in different periods of Zao's career, the two works on paper also encapsulate the evolution of his painting style. In the 1961 work, the bright red backdrop is interspersed with fine, dense and fast-paced black brushstrokes. The lines of the brushstrokes become the focal point of the composition; and the intersecting and expansive line possess a calligraphic resonance, as they are filled with the artist's feelings and a striking momentum. Untitled from 1975 places a stronger emphasis on the spirit of ink in the overall composition, as the work employs light colours that convey a subtle elegance and tenderness.