Elan dans l’inspiration 

Chu Teh-Chun once said that "Kandinsky's creation of abstract art drew inspiration from Cézanne theories on painting, which in turn came from musical expression". Elan dans l’inspiration perfectly encapsulates this impression, where the musicality of Chu-Teh Chun’s art is on fully display. As a classical music enthusiast, Chu has always been deeply entranced by music, believing it to hold a place alongside the creation of abstract art. In 2002, by invitation of the Shanghai Grand Theatre, he had the opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind commission piece for the theatre. This masterpiece “The Spirit of Revival” was distinctively inspired by Beethoven’s “Pastoral Symphony”. Elan dans l’inspiration was created in the same year as the monumental piece for the theatre, where once again he wields his brush to music. With cool and warm tones colliding with one another, his confident broad calligraphic brushstrokes imitate the interweaving of light. Filling the work with vigor and exuberance, the intricate yet delicate composition recreates a musical atmosphere as if various instruments were on play in a symphony. The multicolour spectrum in this era replaced the monochromatic isolation from his earlier periods, depicting a melodic dance of light and shadows on the canvas vividly coming to life through the vibrant notes of yellow, orange, turquoise and vermillion; interspersed with a few “flying white” strokes – paying homage to his artistic roots in traditional Chinese ink painting. Chu Teh-Chun first started when he pursued art at the Hangzhou School of Arts. It was during his studies when he learnt more about Chinese expressionism, an art form favoured by Pun Tianshou; as well as modern abstract art from France advocated by Lin Fengmian. Under the mentorship of both masters, it inspired Chu to blend Western modern and Chinese traditional art together. Chu later continued his further studies by travelling to France in the 1950s, where he took Western abstract expressionism to new heights by imbuing oriental elements within his works. Chu’s achievements were recognized in 1997 when he was elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts – being the first Chinese artist to receive such an honor. Appearing for the first time in auction, this lyrical abstraction piece radiates the pure expression of the artist and a true testimony of his absolute mastery in the 2000s.