Past Exhibition
Chu Teh-Chun's Symphony
13 May - 09 Aug | 2021
Chu Teh-Chun Introduction
French May Arts Festival Associated Project
Officiating guests:
Mr Alexandre Giorgini, Consul General of France in Hong Kong & Macau
Dr Andrew Yuen, Chairman of French May
RSVP assistant@alisan.com.hk
Exhibition Tour
18 May 2021, Tuesday, 12pm & 6pm | Alisan Fine Arts-Central Gallery
Gallery Day HKAGA
Register: assistant@alisan.com.hk
Film Premier: Chu Teh-Chun
Documentary: 80 mins
Language: French (subtitles: English)
Art Basel Hong Kong Film Sector
22 May, Sat, 11:15am | Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre
Free public access, limited seating
French May Arts Festival Film Sector
25 May, Tue, 7:50pm | Broadway Cinematheque
31 May, Mon, 7:50pm | Movie Movie Pacific Place
2 Jun, Wed, 7:30pm | Tai Kwun-JC Cube, after screening talk at 9pm with the director Christophe Fonseca and Fondation CHU Teh-Chun
Ticket (HK$95) will be available start from 26 Apr (Mon)
Broadway Cinematheque: https://www.cinema.com.hk/en/movie/details/12915
Movie Movie Pacific Place: https://www.moviemovie.com.hk/en
Tai Kwun: https://www.afhongkong.org/community/event-rsvp/?event_id=460
A selection of Chu’s poetic calligraphy and ink painting will be on display at our booth 1C26 at Art Basel Hong Kong
Co-presenter: Fondation CHU Teh-Chun
Alisan Fine Arts is honoured to announce our fifth solo exhibition "Chu Teh-Chun's Symphony" for the renowned Chinese-French abstract artist, Chu Teh-Chun for the French May Arts Festival, the first was in 1997. Chu studied watercolour and oil painting at Hangzhou National College of Art under Lin Fengmian, alongside two other important artists Zao Wou-ki and Wu Guanzhong. Chu’s signature abstract style came to be in 1956, after he moved to Paris and he attended a major exhibition of works by French artist, Nicolas de Staël, who is known for his abstract landscapes. His works are celebrated for his integration of traditional Chinese painting techniques including calligraphy with Western abstract art.
This exhibition celebrates the centenary of the artist and will showcase a selection of 16 works mostly on paper which highlight his iconic abstract compositions and calligraphy. Furthermore, it is the second in a series of important shows the gallery has planned for its 40th celebration this year. A selection of Chu’s poetic calligraphy and ink painting will be on display at our booth 1C26 at Art Basel Hong Kong.
In conjunction with the exhibition, a documentary film about his life will be premiered at the film sectors of Art Basel Hong Kong and the French May Arts Festival. This 80 minute documentary is directed by established French director and writer Christophe Fonseca, and co-produced by Les Films de L’Odyssée and the Foundation Chu Teh-Chun. It reveals the artist's unique artistic style through a combination of creative staging, dreamlike landscapes, artworks, and archive images, interspersed with previously unpublished quotes and conversations. Contributors include Eric Lefebvre, Director of the Cernushi Museum; artist Yan Pei-Ming; Sophie Makariou, President of National Museum of Asian Art – Guimet, Paris; Wang Wenzhang, former Vice- Minister of Culture, China as well as the family members.
Artistic achievements
Chu Teh-Chun (1920 Jiangsu, China- 2014 France), a peer and friend of Wu Guanzhong and Zao Wou-ki, is widely celebrated for his integration of traditional Chinese painting techniques with Western abstract art. In 1958, Chu had his first solo exhibition in Paris, and in 1964 an exhibition of his works at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh brought him international fame.
In recognition of his contribution to painting, Chu was inducted into the prestigious Institut de France, as a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1997. He was the first Chinese-born person to be so honored. Membership conveys the distinction of being amongst the most prominent living musicians, artists, architects, and sculptors in France. He was also made a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur and Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques in 2001, received Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite in France, and Médaille d’Or du Mérite Européen in Luxembourg in 2006.
His paintings are in the permanent collections of more than 50 museums around the world, including Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville, Paris; Musée Cernuschi; Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris; Museum of Contemporary Art, Belgium; Shanghai Opera House, Shanghai; National Museum of History, Taipei; Taipei Fine Art Museum, Taiwan.
Chu Teh-Chun & Alisan Fine Arts
Alice King, founder of Alisan Fine Arts, first met Chu Teh-Chun in 1986, during the opening reception for his exhibition at the Hong Kong Institute for Promotion of Chinese Culture. They spent the next decade corresponding, discussing art and culture, with King visiting Chu’s studio during her frequent visits to Paris. However, it wasn’t until 1997, during Le French May, that Alisan Fine Arts first held a solo exhibition for the artist, and since then has held four more solo exhibitions. Significantly, in 2004, Alice King curated a solo exhibition of his works at the University Museum and Art Gallery at the University of Hong Kong.
Officiating guests:
Mr Alexandre Giorgini, Consul General of France in Hong Kong & Macau
Dr Andrew Yuen, Chairman of French May
RSVP assistant@alisan.com.hk
Exhibition Tour
18 May 2021, Tuesday, 12pm & 6pm | Alisan Fine Arts-Central Gallery
Gallery Day HKAGA
Register: assistant@alisan.com.hk
Film Premier: Chu Teh-Chun
Documentary: 80 mins
Language: French (subtitles: English)
Art Basel Hong Kong Film Sector
22 May, Sat, 11:15am | Louis Koo Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre
Free public access, limited seating
French May Arts Festival Film Sector
25 May, Tue, 7:50pm | Broadway Cinematheque
31 May, Mon, 7:50pm | Movie Movie Pacific Place
2 Jun, Wed, 7:30pm | Tai Kwun-JC Cube, after screening talk at 9pm with the director Christophe Fonseca and Fondation CHU Teh-Chun
Ticket (HK$95) will be available start from 26 Apr (Mon)
Broadway Cinematheque: https://www.cinema.com.hk/en/movie/details/12915
Movie Movie Pacific Place: https://www.moviemovie.com.hk/en
Tai Kwun: https://www.afhongkong.org/community/event-rsvp/?event_id=460
A selection of Chu’s poetic calligraphy and ink painting will be on display at our booth 1C26 at Art Basel Hong Kong
Co-presenter: Fondation CHU Teh-Chun
Alisan Fine Arts is honoured to announce our fifth solo exhibition "Chu Teh-Chun's Symphony" for the renowned Chinese-French abstract artist, Chu Teh-Chun for the French May Arts Festival, the first was in 1997. Chu studied watercolour and oil painting at Hangzhou National College of Art under Lin Fengmian, alongside two other important artists Zao Wou-ki and Wu Guanzhong. Chu’s signature abstract style came to be in 1956, after he moved to Paris and he attended a major exhibition of works by French artist, Nicolas de Staël, who is known for his abstract landscapes. His works are celebrated for his integration of traditional Chinese painting techniques including calligraphy with Western abstract art.
This exhibition celebrates the centenary of the artist and will showcase a selection of 16 works mostly on paper which highlight his iconic abstract compositions and calligraphy. Furthermore, it is the second in a series of important shows the gallery has planned for its 40th celebration this year. A selection of Chu’s poetic calligraphy and ink painting will be on display at our booth 1C26 at Art Basel Hong Kong.
In conjunction with the exhibition, a documentary film about his life will be premiered at the film sectors of Art Basel Hong Kong and the French May Arts Festival. This 80 minute documentary is directed by established French director and writer Christophe Fonseca, and co-produced by Les Films de L’Odyssée and the Foundation Chu Teh-Chun. It reveals the artist's unique artistic style through a combination of creative staging, dreamlike landscapes, artworks, and archive images, interspersed with previously unpublished quotes and conversations. Contributors include Eric Lefebvre, Director of the Cernushi Museum; artist Yan Pei-Ming; Sophie Makariou, President of National Museum of Asian Art – Guimet, Paris; Wang Wenzhang, former Vice- Minister of Culture, China as well as the family members.
Artistic achievements
Chu Teh-Chun (1920 Jiangsu, China- 2014 France), a peer and friend of Wu Guanzhong and Zao Wou-ki, is widely celebrated for his integration of traditional Chinese painting techniques with Western abstract art. In 1958, Chu had his first solo exhibition in Paris, and in 1964 an exhibition of his works at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh brought him international fame.
In recognition of his contribution to painting, Chu was inducted into the prestigious Institut de France, as a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1997. He was the first Chinese-born person to be so honored. Membership conveys the distinction of being amongst the most prominent living musicians, artists, architects, and sculptors in France. He was also made a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur and Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques in 2001, received Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite in France, and Médaille d’Or du Mérite Européen in Luxembourg in 2006.
His paintings are in the permanent collections of more than 50 museums around the world, including Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville, Paris; Musée Cernuschi; Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris; Museum of Contemporary Art, Belgium; Shanghai Opera House, Shanghai; National Museum of History, Taipei; Taipei Fine Art Museum, Taiwan.
Chu Teh-Chun & Alisan Fine Arts
Alice King, founder of Alisan Fine Arts, first met Chu Teh-Chun in 1986, during the opening reception for his exhibition at the Hong Kong Institute for Promotion of Chinese Culture. They spent the next decade corresponding, discussing art and culture, with King visiting Chu’s studio during her frequent visits to Paris. However, it wasn’t until 1997, during Le French May, that Alisan Fine Arts first held a solo exhibition for the artist, and since then has held four more solo exhibitions. Significantly, in 2004, Alice King curated a solo exhibition of his works at the University Museum and Art Gallery at the University of Hong Kong.