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Zao Wou-Ki or Zhao Wuji (赵无极), born February 13, 1921 in Peking, is one of the rare Chinese painters to have found a public as well in France that in China, this thanks to an artistic expression to the crossing of the Chinese tradition and the modern western painting. His stay in the hexagon will mark it forever.
Formed in China to the techniques of the classic Chinese and western paintings, Zao Wou-ki arrives in France to 27 years and start learning the engraving at Desjobert printer.
After determining this training, he achieves numerous engravings, lithographs or aqua fortis to illustrate works of poets notably big (Henri Michaux, Rene Char, Fran? Ois Cheng). These works, where pierce the influence of the ink of China, shine by adding the "western" of the color. Zao finds its own words very quickly, midway between the two cultures.
Other essential meeting, the work of artist Paul Klee. Zao is fascinated by the painting abstracted of Switzerland, and abandon the representational painting since 1951 for the lyric abstraction until the end of his career.

The works, of big format, often have the shape of Diptych or triptychs. The colors explode there with power, a particular attention is granted to light. The artist wishes "to describe the breath of wind and the bursting of the colors" in these creations where the abstraction and the features of the engraving balance themselves marvelously. The spectator does not know anymore if the work is a shape, a face, or a pure abstract expression.
Since the years 1960, the artist gets an international renown thanks to multiple exhibitions in the big museums and galleries of the world, notably to USA and to Japan.
His entry to the Academy of Fine Arts in 2001 completes an exceptional race.
Zao Wou-ki does not produce anymore but his work continues to be exposed.
Lately, the National Library of France presented a retrospective of all his work printed. An event that greeted his talent, the one to know how to unite the the abstraction and figuration, and to propose an artistic dialogue between China and France.

Some key dates

- 1921 Born in Beijing.
- 1935-41 Studies at the Academy of Fine Arts of Hangzhou (Zhejiang province).
- 1948 Arrival in Paris.
- 1950 Henri Michaux wrote eight poems inspired lithographs of ZaoWou-ki.
- 1964 Collection of French nationality.
- 1975 Nine paintings between
- 1950 and 1975 are set at the National Museum of Modern Art.
- 1979 80 prints are exposed to the National Library of France.
- 1983 1st exhibition in China depuisson starting in France, MuséeNational Beijing.
- 1998 Retrospective at the Shanghai Museum.
- 2001 Became a member of the Academy of Fine Arts of France.
- 2003 retrospective at the Galerie du Jeu de Paume.
- 2008 Exhibition at the National Library of France.