Fabienne Verdier - Fu - Rare Ink And Acrylic Signed - 1988

Original ink and acrylic on paper, signed with the artist's red stamp.

Created in China in 1988, this rare calligraphic work dates from Fabienne Verdier's apprenticeship with master calligrapher Huang Yuan in Sichuan province. After arriving in China in 1983, the artist was accepted as the master's pupil in 1984, after several months during which she left her calligraphy essays outside his door on a daily basis. She continued this apprenticeship for almost ten years.

The work was sent in 1988 to a close friend for New Year's greetings, and includes an autograph dedication by the artist. The calligraphic character, 福 (fú), means happiness, fortune, luck or prosperity. It occupies a central place in Chinese culture and is traditionally associated with good fortune wishes, particularly during New Year celebrations.

"May this "FU" bring you all the happiness you need for this New Year 88!
I'm thinking of you from the depths of my SEUCHUAN
I'm kissing you.
Fabienne Verdier
P.S.: In Paris, I haven't had anyone from all the people you told me to contact! it's the shit..."

The works created by Fabienne Verdier during this Chinese period are extremely rare. Following the political events of the late 1980s and on her returns to France in 1989 and 1992, some of her work was destroyed by the artist herself or confiscated by Chinese customs authorities, as she recounts in her autobiographical account Passagère du silence (2003).

"In the evening, my friends came to see me and advised me not to leave anything behind: "And be careful, if you've taken notes about your stay here, even about old Huang, better get rid of them before you go through customs." [...] After a lot of crying and bitterness, I decided to burn everything. I only took certain paintings with me." [after the Tian'anmen Square Demonstrations]

"We shipped some of it by boat, but there are certain objects a painter never part with: his brushes, his seals. At the airport, customs officials searched my belongings and confiscated many of them. I had vowed to save some of these objects, links in a chain of ancient knowledge. They were taken from me, as if I were a thief of Chinese heritage, while officials were at the same time destroying priceless historic centers in China's major cities." [return to France, 1992]

Elegant dark wood frame.

Ghislain Baizeau, Fabienne Verdier's studio manager, after consulting the artist, confirmed the authenticity of this work.

1988. 16 x 34 cm

Sending fold.