Worlds Within: Art as Refuge
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.
Set against Asia’s layered histories, the exhibition highlights the vital role of modern and contemporary Asian artists in shaping a global artistic vision. Hong Kong—defined by convergence and transformation—offers a fitting stage. Worlds Within invites quiet reflection, honoring artists who found clarity through displacement, and strength in silence, gesture, and paint.
“Worlds Within: Art as Refuge brings to Hong Kong two long-overdue milestones in the gallery landscape: the first significant exhibition of Lê Phổ and the inaugural showcase of Fernando Zóbel in the city. Both Lê Phổ and Zóbel are celebrated as icons of Southeast Asian modernism, yet their practices of er a nuanced, transcultural vision that is increasingly resonating with collectors, institutions, and art enthusiasts alike. By juxtaposing their aesthetic vernaculars with the delicate, pensive vistas of Kang Myonghi and the illuminated abstractions of Zao Wou-Ki, we reveal how these four artists were shaped by their fluid identities and diverse artistic traditions across Asia, Europe, and the United States. We are committed to amplifying such voices—artists who move between worlds, and in doing so, help us better understand our own. ”
A Journey Through the Inner Landscapes of Four Visionaries
Lê Phổ, La famille dans le jardin, ink and gouache on silk, 91.3 × 61.5 cm, circa 1938
Fernando Zóbel, Sin Titulo, oil on canvas, 144 x 112.5 cm, circa 1964-1965
Zao Wou-Ki, born in Beijing and later settled in Paris, carried with him the weight of China's ink traditions and the freedom of Western abstraction. His vast, cosmic compositions dissolve all borders—between East and West, figuration and void—into pure light. In his work, the experience of exile becomes a passage to his Chinese roots and to the universal.
Fernando Zóbel, born in Manila, educated in the United States, and spiritually anchored in Spain, painted with the precision of a thinker and the heart of a nomad. His delicate lines hover like thoughts suspended in time—elegant, searching, and unafraid of emptiness. A man constantly in transit, Zóbel’s work reflects a lifelong dialogue between memory, culture, and the unknown.
Lê Phổ, whose roots stem from northern Vietnam and flowered in France, transformed nostalgia into tenderness. A refugee of conflict, his art became a place to preserve beauty—fragile, fragrant, and enduring. His painted women, gardens, and quiet interiors whisper of longing and home, suspended between worlds. These works became his refuge and haven during turbulent times, preserving the Vietnam that lived in his mind and offering his viewers a gentler world to rest in.
Kang Myonghi, a traveler between Seoul and Paris, gathers the earth into her paintings. Her work is not only of the land, the sky and the wind but from it—layering color like soil and time itself. Each canvas is a grounded meditation, a way to return to stillness amidst the flux of modern life, and a sanctuary within the natural world that vacillates between emptiness and fullness in myriad manifestations of colors, marks, and shapes.
“This exhibition reflects something deeply personal for us at Villepin—how art can become a compass when everything around us feels uncertain. These artists carried their homes within them. Through travel, exile, and reinvention, they created works that speak quietly but powerfully to the need for refuge—not just physical, but emotional and spiritual. We hope this exhibition of ers visitors a space to reconnect—with themselves, with memory, and with the unseen threads that connect us all.”
A New Chapter of Villepin with A Collectors Approach
As Villepin proudly celebrates its fifth anniversary, we unveil a new chapter—one that deepens our enduring commitment to collectors. Since our inception, Villepin has been shaped by collectors and built for them. Today, we reaffirm their vital role as custodians of artistic legacy and visionaries of cultural heritage.
This milestone is more than an anniversary—it is a celebration of the shared journey we’ve undertaken with collectors and artists alike. Together, we’ve experienced the transformative power of art, seen through the discerning eyes of those who create and those who collect. To mark this new era, Villepin reveals a reimagined space in Hong Kong: a refined, intimate setting designed for those shaping the future of art. More than just a gallery, Villepin is a home—both in spirit and in experience. Behind its doors lies a personal, welcoming world where collectors and artists are received not as clients, but as cherished guests.
The new space features a private lounge with a warm, residential character, and a curated library that invites quiet reflection and meaningful conversation. It is a sanctuary—designed for connection, contemplation, and the joy of discovery. Here, collecting becomes more than a passion; it becomes a shared journey of purpose and insight.
As we step into this new chapter, we place collectors firmly at the heart of our mission. We honor the legacy we’ve built together and look ahead with renewed passion—to nurture the next generation of great collectors and to continue shaping the cultural landscape of tomorrow.