The five-month long exhibition “The Way is Infinite: Centennial Retrospective Exhibition of Zao Wou-ki” at the National Art Museum of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, China, ended on February 20. The withdrawal process was complex. Not only were the packing and transportation requirements strict, but the handover of tens of billions of exhibits was even more meticulous. The check and handover work was conducted by a third-party conservation team led by Yi-cheng Li, Director of the Cultural Relics Restoration Research Center of Cheng Shiu University from Taiwan.

This unique exhibition, “The Way is Infinite,” features over 200 of Zao Wou-ki’s masterpieces, including 110 paintings from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. Cheng Shiu University’s team of professionals was entrusted by the collectors to inspect, maintain, and hand over the pieces. Representatives from lending institutions worldwide, as well as representatives from third-party organizations, worked with the Art Museum’s China Academy of Art staff to verify the condition of the works and to check them during the handover process.

Yi-cheng Li said that the conservation team had to carefully examine each area and the details of each painting according to the interpretation report made five months ago. “For abstract works, the details need to be looked at clearly. For example, the part that seems cracked may be the aging of the material or Mr. Zao Wou-ki’s creative techniques. These must be compared accurately with the previous report.”

Prior to this, Cheng Shiu’s team had already undergone the check and handover of many large-scale international exhibitions in Singapore, Japan, China, and Hong Kong. Yi-Cheng Li acknowledged that the Cheng Shiu Cultural Relics Conservation Research Center was honored to participate in Zao Wou-ki’s special exhibition. The opportunity to closely examine, maintain, and conserve the master’s works has enabled the team to witness the charm and greatness of Zao Wou-ki’s art. The experience signifies the significant recognition of the Cheng Shiu conservation team by the international art world.

He said an international exhibition requires an extended planning period and abundant human, material, and financial resources. It was a rare opportunity for the National Art Museum of the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou to exhibit many essential works of Zao Wou-ki, where several remarkable achievements were created. Whether in terms of exhibition quality, word of mouth, or the number of visitors and audience feedback, it was a quality exhibition that has been rare in recent years.