In a time once again marked by rupture—by war, displacement, ecological collapse, and disinformation—Villepin presents Worlds Within: Art as Refuge, an exhibition that brings together four visionaries whose work offers a sanctuary, not of escape, but of presence. Through journeys across continents and histories, Zao Wou-Ki, Fernando Zóbel, Lê Phổ, and Kang Myonghi found in art and abstraction a way to endure uncertainty and preserve what is essential. Marking the first time Fernando Zóbel’s works will be exhibited in Hong Kong, alongside a comprehensive showcase of Lê Phổ’s artwork from each major era of his career, this exhibition is a significant moment for both artists. It underscores Villepin’s ongoing dedication to shaping the cultural landscape and serving as a messenger for the most significant artists of Asia and Southeast Asia from the 20th and 21st centuries.
Their practices, shaped by exile, migration, and reinvention, gave rise to visual languages that are both deeply rooted and radically modern. These artists do not impose; they invite. Their works transform turbulence into rhythm, displacement into meaning, and silence into resonance, offering a profound response to the complexities of identity and belonging. Rooted in traditions of contemplation and balance, yet forged through personal and historical upheaval, their art embodies values urgently needed today: harmony, resilience, spiritual reflection, and unity in diversity. In a world increasingly fractured, their vision reminds us that tradition and modernity can coexist, and that transformation can emerge not from rupture, but from reintegration.
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