The Bridge Connecting East and West: screening of the documentary “Zao Wou-Ki’s Artistic Trilogy” at the China Cultural Center in Brussels

Born in Beijing, Zao Wou-Ki spent his life in between cities. After studying in Hangzhou and meeting his second wife in Hong Kong, he took up residence in Paris, where he soon found international fame. Zao Wou-Ki has learned both from Europe and Asia, fostering his unique intercultural perspective simultaneously with his artistic skills.

“Zao Wou-Ki’s Artistic Trilogy” was shown on March 12th at the China Cultural Center in Brussels. The documentary focuses on three cities: Hangzhou, Hong Kong and Paris, each representing an important period in the artist’s life. His life experiences, much like his artistic productions, reflect the synthesis of Chinese and European cultures. His paintings, a clever combination of Chinese ink with Western colors and expressions, are the reason for his artistic notoriety on the international stage.

Moved by the documentary, the audience then had the opportunity to converse with the documentary’s director, Mr Yao Guoqiang. Yao Yizhi, the famous painter now living in Antwerp, expressed his understanding and his emotion as to Zao Wou-Ki’s art, adding that it is a bridge, connecting East and West.

An audience member, who would soon be leaving for China, spoke during the conversation: “It was as if I were seeing five thousand years of Chinese culture and history. It was like a journey through time and space, an intimate encounter with the soul of a civilisation.” She added that her life plan was to stay in China for five months, in order to live in and understand these five thousand years of Chinese culture.