The ICICLE Cultural Space puts the spotlight on the artist Li Kunwu, a pioneer of graphic novels in China. For the exhibition “Life Lines“, he presents a series of recent works, celebrating life through everyday scenes and offering a unique perspective on contemporary Chinese history.
35 AVENUE GEORGE V, PARIS 8
20 March – 30 May 2024
Monday to Saturday | 11 am – 7 pm
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
Regarded as the greatest Chinese cartooniste of his generation, Li Kunwu combines traditional Chinese techniques with contemporary aesthetics. His artistic universe thrives on cross-cultural and cross-temporal dialogues, exploring universal themes such as identity and memory.
The ICICLE Cultural Space unveils a series of recent paintings and drawings through the exhibition “Life Lines“, curated by Geniève Clastres and Philippe Pataud Célérier (Est-Ouest 371), together with Myriam Kryger (global curation). Executed with Indian ink on rice paper, they depict everyday scenes and landscapes.
In Li Kunwu’s works, lines, with their intensity and expressive power, both represent and breathe life into the scenes they illustrate. They capture the characters’ movements and expressions in vibrant paintings, that entice to contemplate the world.
LI KUNWU
Born in 1955 in the Yunnan province, located in Southern China, Li Kunwu is a prominent figure in the Chinese art scene. His work, praised for its narrative skill, is deeply influenced by his country’s history and culture, as well as his personal memories.
Self-taught in drawing, he has worked as a press cartoonist for about thirty years. He has published around ten comic books in France, including the trilogy “A Chinese Life“, which chronicles the story of a family across three generations, from the 1950s to the contemporary era.
A versatile artist, he expresses himself through multiple artistic techniques: traditional painting, editorial cartooning, caricature, ink, wash, and watercolour. Exhibited in Europe, the United States, and China, he has received several awards for his work. He is represented by Est-Ouest 371 (Geneviève Clastres and Philippe Pataud Célérier) for his non-comic work.
ARTWORKS
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THE CARD GAME, 2023
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THE LOVERS, 2015
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THE TEAHOUSE, 2023
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THE MIST OF EARLY MORNING, 2021
A CHINESE LIFE
Acclaimed by critics in China as well as abroad, Li Kunwu’s graphic novels delve into the societal and cultural transformations experienced by China from the early 20th century to the contemporary era.
Personal or historical narratives, they are available at the ICICLE Cultural Space’s bookstore, alongside a rich selection of over 500 books to “create, think, and live according to Nature“.
“LIFE LINES“ EXHIBITION
ICICLE CULTURAL SPACE
35 AVENUE GEORGE V, PARIS 8
20 MARCH – 30 MAY 2024
MONDAY TO SATURDAY | 11 AM – 7 PM