RCCHC "China and the World: Historical Interactions" Talk Series 23 - A Master of Chinese Art in South America: Zhang Daqian’s Brazilian Years and Their Cultural Repercussions

The lecture will examine the trajectory of the Chinese painter, poet, calligrapher, and collector Zhang Daqian (1899–1983), who, after leaving mainland China in 1949 and residing temporarily in Hong Kong, relocated to South America in 1952. This decision was not incidental but rather the outcome of a constellation of factors, including social and professional networks cultivated in Hong Kong. Following a brief stay in Argentina (1952–1953), Zhang Daqian established a prolific and dynamic presence in Brazil (1954–1973), characterized by solo and group exhibitions, interactions with members of the Chinese diaspora, and sustained visibility in the national press. The Brazilian landscape emerged as a recurrent source of inspiration in his artistic production, while his activities played a decisive role in promoting Chinese art in Brazil, with significant implications for cultural exchange between the two countries.