PROVENANCE:

Private collection, Paris (acquired directly from the artist)

This painting is to be sold with a certificate of authenticity issued by the artist's wife Mme Ching Chao CHU. (image in the forthcoming Catalogue Raisonné)

Ancient Chinese aesthetic theory pursues the utmost ambit: the precious of withered is the innermost rich, though withered in appearance, it is beautiful actually. This has been reflected in the appraise by Wu Guanzhong, "In traditional Chinese ink painting, the moving of brush, the characteristic of rice paper and silk, and the texture have been regarded as the intriguing features of oriental painting, which is suitable for close look. Chu Teh-chun did his utmost in developing Chinese painting rhyme and fascinating modern painting with bold and resolute strokes in his paintings." "Chu Teh- chun's works is really like Western painting when viewed from afar, as Chinese painting when stared at nearby. His creative approach is suitable to be used as I stated the view. Chu Teh- chun's painting has another prominent feature, which is transparent. The slimy oil paints have formed transparent dress, and the translucent effect is the features of Chinese rice paper, which is unrivaled by the west. Chu Teh-chun's abstract painting is free from the restriction of the objects, whether in close-range or beyond vision. He has pursued a far-reaching sense of combining space and rhythm of specific ink together. His painting has given full play to the painting in respect of depth and image."

In the 1980s, Chu Teh-chun had fully used lines, dots, and rough strokes in Chinese calligraphy and painting. The pitching, pause and transition, strokes and brushes in Chinese calligraphy could be found in his works during this period. By the late 1980s, Chu Teh-chun inclined to use natural light in his painting for deeper interpretation and tried to put more colors into picture. He adopted a more extensive and emotional creative way to extend the spirit of Chinese culture. He has also put rich colors into his creative works, which shows affluent and sentimental feelings. "Atmosphère bleue V", created in 1988, is depicted in a dynamic layout with delicate fabric, accurate beauty and extreme expression. The painting shows the jumping rhythm with power. The dots and blocks seemed like symphony performance, integrated with the fluency of Chinese cursive writing and the Western rhythm of visual aesthetic.