Chao Chung-Hsiang at Alisan Fine Arts

Circles, squares, and geometric shapes in vibrant acrylics over traditional ink washes compose the so-called "hybrid paintings" of birds and fish that Alisan Fine Arts dedicates to Chao Chung-Hsiang in this edition of Asia Week New York — also celebrating the gallery's 45 years dedicated to contemporary Chinese art, alongside names like Zao Wou-ki and Chu Teh-chun. Trained under the guidance of Lin Fengmian at the National Academy of Art of Hangzhou in 1939, Chao immigrated to Taiwan in 1948 and, after a period of study in Spain, arrived in New York in 1958, where he came into direct contact with American abstract expressionism and other post-war movements. The exhibition brings together his abstract black and white ink paintings alongside these hybrid compositions that incorporate yin-yang symbols and references to Chinese philosophy, consciously expanding the traditional language of ink painting. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Chao gained institutional recognition with solo shows at the Brooklyn Museum and the Parrish Art Museum, in addition to being included in the exhibition "China: 5,000 Years" at the Guggenheim in 1998; his work is now part of collections such as the Metropolitan Museum and M+, in Hong Kong.