HONG KONG.- In celebration of its 40th Anniversary in Asia, Christie's announces Through the Master's Eye: David Hockney & Wu Guanzhong, an unprecedented exhibition in Hong Kong that brings together works by two of the most influential artists of the 20th century for the first time. Open to the public from 22-29 September at Christie's Asia Pacific headquarters at The Henderson, this landmark presentation will be on view alongside the Hong Kong Autumn 20th/21st Century Preview and Sales.
Celebrating the enduring legacy of David Hockney, Through the Master's Eye places his work in direct dialogue with that of Chinese Modern pioneer Wu Guanzhong, revealing striking parallels in their artistic journeys and approaches. Comprising works created across several decades, the exhibition explores how both artists expanded the possibilities of landscape painting through the magic of perspective and a shared spirit of experimentation. Though their artistic journeys unfolded in opposite directions, Wu towards the West and Hockney towards the East, both enriched their artistic language through a dialogue with cultures beyond their own.
At the exhibition's core is Hockney's transformative engagement with Chinese scroll painting, inspired by his travels through mainland China and Hong Kong in 1981. Chinese scrolls, with their multiple perspectives, had a profound impact on Hockney's understanding of space and visual storytelling. The exhibition also features two landscape works by Wang Hui (1632-1717), whose multi-perspectival compositions left a lasting impression on Hockney's understanding of pictorial space, influencing his investigations into vision and perception.
Hockney's discoveries find a powerful parallel in Wu's practice. Wu's studies at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris from 1947 to 1950 immersed him in European modernism, particularly the work of Cézanne, Van Gogh, and Matisse, informing his distinctive synthesis of Chinese artistic traditions and Western modernist ideas.
Both Hockney and Wu challenged the conventions of single-point perspective, a key theme highlighted within this exhibition. Throughout his career, Hockney explored multiple ways of seeing through painting, photography, and digital media, creating compositions that present simultaneous viewpoints. Wu similarly moved beyond strict naturalism, favoring rhythm, abstraction and spatial expression to reimagine the landscape tradition.
Cristian Albu, Deputy Chairman, Head of Auction and Private Sales, 20th and 21st Century Art, Christie's Asia Pacific commented, “It is our great privilege to celebrate the inimitable landscapes of David Hockney and Wu Guanzhong by bringing them into conversation for the very first time. While distinct in style and cultural context, this pairing spotlights how both artists sought new ways of representing visual experience through a multi-perspectival lens, forging connections across geographies and artistic histories. Through this exhibition, we continue our long-standing commitment to artistic exchange across cultures and continents.”
Eric Chang, Deputy Chairman and Chairman of 20th and 21st Century Art, Christie's Asia Pacific commented, “Wu Guanzhong was one of the great artistic pioneers of the 20th century, forging a singular visual language that melded the modern sensibility of traditional Chinese ink painting and the innovations of Western modernism. By placing his work in dialogue with that of David Hockney, this exhibition offers audiences a unique opportunity to experience Wu's masterful landscapes in a new light, revealing a resonance of vision between two remarkable artists.”
