Published: 17:41, February 24, 2026
M+ hosts Asia's 1st major retrospective of Zao Wou-Ki's graphic works
By Wang Zhan
The undated photo shows an installation view of Zao Wou-Ki: Master Print, a retrospective exhibition of the renowned Chinese-French artist in M+. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG – The M+ museum in Hong Kong's West Kowloon Cultural District is currently hosting Zao Wou-Ki: Master Printmaker, Asia's first major retrospective exhibition dedicated to the graphic works of the renowned Chinese-French artist. The exhibition will run until May 3.

The showcase traces Zao's lifelong dedication to printmaking, spanning his work from 1949 to 2000. It highlights how printmaking was a crucial aspect of his artistic practice, marked by continuous experimentation with diverse techniques and styles.

Prints also served as a medium for Zao to collaborate with a global network of writers, artists, and cultural figures, establishing him as a prominent cross-cultural personality. His contributions helped shape the post-war cultural landscapes of Europe, Asia, and the United States.

The undated photo shows an installation view of Zao Wou-Ki: Master Print, a retrospective exhibition of the renowned Chinese-French artist in M+. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

Organized both chronologically and thematically, the exhibition presents nearly 180 works. These include prints, illustrated books, works on paper, and archival materials sourced primarily from M+'s collection, largely acquired through a major donation by Françoise Marquet-Zao, the late artist's wife and the Chief Curator and President of the Zao Wou-Ki Foundation.

The exhibition also features a selection of works donated by Zao's daughter, Sin-May Roy Zao, as well as over 50 paintings, prints, books, and works on paper on loan from museums and private collections across the globe.

Landscape with Crescent, Zao Wou-ki, 1949, lithograph (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Sailing Ships at Sea, Zao Wou-ki, 1953, lithograph (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Untitled, Zao Wou-ki, 1960, etching and aquatint (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Untitled, Zao Wou-Ki, 1978, lithograph (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)