the flower thief - Musée Cernuschi

PRESS RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 2016
THE FLOWER THIEF
WALASSE TING (1928-2010)
MUSÉE
CERNUSCHI
ASIAN ARTS
MUSEUM OF
PARIS
EXHIBITION
2016/10/07
2017/02/26
INFORMATION
WWW .CERNUSCHI.PARIS.FR
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Ding Xiongquan, who was born in 1928, chose the pseudonym Walasse Ting
and the nickname, The Flower Thief. He was one of the landmark figures of
contemporary Chinese art and a well-known name on the international stage.
This unclassified artist, who was active in Paris, New York and Amsterdam, also
collaborated with a number of artists, whose perspectives enriched his work by
combining Chinese art with modern Western art.
Walasse Ting began studying art in China. In 1953, he moved to Paris, where he
continued exploring figurative art in ink. His expressive works are similar to those
produced by the CoBrA movement and by artists like Pierre Alechinsky and Asger
Jorn, with whom he developed fruitful relationships. He nurtured a predilection for
Matisse during his years in Paris, but only began truly exploring it in his works after
moving to New York, where he began alternating between ink and pure color, and
between the codified traditions of Chinese painting and the spontaneity of Action
Painting.
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[Légende]
Walasse Ting connected with many avant-garde movements across the globe, and
has become the object of great enthusiasm in Asia over the past few years.
The Musée Cernuschi exhibition aims to rekindle European interest in Ting’s work.
The goal is to highlight the important role he played on the international artistic scene
as well as showcase the rich diversity and complexity of his work, which is still largely
unknown.
Last but not least, the exhibition will be the perfect occasion to display and publish
more than 80 paintings and calligraphies Walasse Ting donated to the Musée
Cernuschi.
This unique collection which has never been put on display has been restored
in order to show Ting’s playful and prolific œuvre in the best possible light.
These works – from monumental compositions portraying women with
botanical bodies to the leaves of a confession book – are intimately intertwined
with the subversive identity of the Flower Thief.
CATALOGUE
CURATORS
Editions Paris Musées
ISBN : 978-2-7596-0330-5
39 €
Éric Lefebvre, head of the Musée Cernuschi
Mael Bellec, curator
Walasse Ting,Untitled, circa 1975-1980
Ink and colors on paper ; Archives Pierre Alechinsky
© Estate of Walasse Ting/ADAGP, 2016/Photo Michel
Nguyen
FEES
Full price : 8 €
Reduced price: 6 €
Half price: 4 €
CONTACT
COMMUNICATION/PRESS
Maryvonne Deleau
[email protected]
Tél. 01 53 96 21 73
MUSÉE CERNUSCHI
MUSÉE DES ARTS DE L’ASIE
DE LA VILLE DE PARIS
7, Avenue Vélasquez - 75008 Paris
Tél. 01 53 96 21 50
Fax 01 53 96 21 96
Open daily from 10h a.m. to 6 p.m.
Except on Mondays and bank
holidays
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