La Nuit profonde 夜深沉 – Recent Works of Gao Xingjian
Venue: iPreciation (誰先覺), 50 Cuscaden Road, HPL House #01-01, Singapore 249724
Private Preview: Mar 16, 2023
Exhibition Opens to Public: Mar 17 – Apr 1, 2023
Exhibition Overview
iPreciation is honoured to present 28 important ink paintings by Gao Xingjian. Among them, 17 works were created between 2020 and 2022.
This exhibition celebrates Gao’s remarkable artistic achievements. It also marks a significant honour he received in 2023.
In January 2023, Gao turned 83. Shortly after, Emmanuel Macron awarded him the prestigious Legion of Honour at the Élysée Palace. The recognition acknowledges Gao’s profound contributions to literature and the arts.
International audiences know Gao as a Nobel Prize laureate in Literature. However, his creative practice spans many disciplines. He works as a novelist, playwright, poet, theatre and film director, painter, photographer, and philosopher.
Life and Artistic Background
Gao Xingjian was born in Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, China, in 1940. Later, he moved to Paris in 1987. He eventually became a French citizen in 1997.
The Milan Arts Festival 2008 once described Gao as a “modern Renaissance man.” His artistic range reflects this title.
Gao paints exclusively with ink. In traditional Chinese culture, ink carries the spirit and inner energy of the painter. Therefore, the medium plays a central role in his creative philosophy.
Although Gao moved away from Western oil painting in the 1970s, traces of those techniques remain. For example, he layers different shades of ink to create depth and atmosphere. As a result, his works combine classical tradition with contemporary experimentation.
Painting Process and Philosophy
Gao focuses on intuitive depictions of his inner mindscape. Instead of planning compositions rigidly, he allows his thoughts to guide the process.
Before and during painting, he often listens to classical music. The rhythms and harmonies influence his movements. Gradually, he transforms musical impressions into expressive brushstrokes.
However, Gao does not complete a painting in one sitting. Instead, he often pauses and leaves the work untouched for days, months, or even years. Later, he returns to it with fresh insight. Sometimes he makes adjustments. Other times he leaves it unchanged.
Once satisfied, he mounts the painting and assigns an extemporaneous title. At that moment, the artwork reaches its final form.
For viewers, the result appears as a visual stream of consciousness. The blurred imagery reflects the fleeting nature of thought. Ideas emerge, fade, and transform—just like the human mind itself.
As Gao famously said, “painting begins where language fails.” Each viewer therefore experiences the work differently. Meaning becomes personal, introspective, and deeply individual.
Awards and International Recognition
Over the years, Gao has received numerous international honours. For instance, he received the Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters in 1992.
In 2000, the Swedish Academy awarded him the Nobel Prize in Literature. The Academy praised his work for its universal relevance, profound insight, and linguistic creativity.
Subsequently, Gao received several international distinctions. These include the Golden Plate Award, the Lions Award from the New York Public Library, and the La Milanesiana Award.
In 2003, the city of Marseille organised “Year of Gao Xingjian.” The event featured exhibitions of his paintings, theatre productions such as August Snow, and other creative works.
Later, in 2008, Gao became the guest of honour at the La Milanesiana. In the same year, Hong Kong organised a festival celebrating his multidisciplinary achievements.
More recently, in 2019, Gao received the Premio Roma for his book Per un nuovo Rinascimento.
Exhibitions and Collections
Since 1985, Gao has held more than seventy solo exhibitions across Europe, the United States, and Asia. Museums and galleries frequently feature his work in group exhibitions and international art fairs.
In 2005, the Singapore Art Museum organised a retrospective exhibition of his work.
Later, in 2015, the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium and the Museum of Ixelles held a major double exhibition. The Museum of Ixelles presented a retrospective of his paintings. Meanwhile, the Royal Museums displayed six monumental works that now remain in their permanent collection.
Today, many international institutions collect Gao’s works. These include the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Musée Guimet, the Singapore Art Museum, and the National Museum of History.
For more information, please contact us at (65) 6339 0678 or email us at enquiry@ipreciation.com
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