Guided Viewing: "Zhang Daqian: The Master" with Annie Wong
In celebration of the 120th anniversary of Zhang Daqian’s birthday, Sotheby’s and Xi Zhi Tang Gallery presents a large-scale solo exhibition, “Zhang Daqian: The Master”, featuring nearly 60 paintings sourced from the artist’s family and private collectors around the world.
Annie Wong, Deputy Director Specialist of Modern Chinese Paintings at Sotheby’s, will provide a guided tour of the exhibition of the important works spanning different periods of the artist’s oeuvre, with an emphasis on splashed ink paintings, many of which have been featured in major exhibitions while some have never been seen in public before.
Zhang Daqian was a remarkable artist from a young age, though his characteristic splashed ink painting technique was developed at a later stage in his life, during his long residency overseas when he found himself immersed in modern Western art developments and the pioneering output of the Abstract Expressionists. Combining Chinese painting materials and semi-abstract imagery, Zhang Daqian developed a new style that encapsulated an aesthetic rooted in traditional Chinese painting, while imbuing his compositions with a spontaneity to create ravishingly beautiful works with a strong visual impact, making his mark on the history of 20th century art.