Zao Wou-Ki

Evoquant les grandes polémiques de son époque : le communisme, la guerre d'Indochine, des faits divers en liens directes avec les grands philosophes contemporains, cet essai permet une traversée de l'oeuvre même, dans ses grandes interrogations de l'oeuvre de Merleau-Ponty.

"For the last few years, when on assignment, Martin Parr has had his picture taken by a local studio photographer, or street photographer, or in a photo booth. The resulting portraits range from pictures taken in elaborate studio sets reminiscent of the heyday of the Victorian studio photographer, through to digitally manipulated images of Parr as Mr. Universe, as well as images horrendously re- touched in the studio's efforts to flatter Parr and make him appear twenty years younger. As with all Parr's projects the book is not only hilarious but also raises broader issues of identity and self, questioning the whole notion of the photographic portrait."

The Chinese-French painter Zao Wou-Ki (1920-2013) developed a distinctive abstract style blending the visual poetry of Chinese painting and calligraphy with European pictorial traditions. This volume presents the artist's life and work. The essays consider the reception of Zao's work in the United States, his engagement with postwar abstraction, and his exploration of various artistic media.