Series 4: How to View Abstract Landscapes?

While abstract landscapes differ from traditional landscape paintings, they are not the same as purely abstract art. Even when the image becomes simplified or less realistic, these works still keep a sense of “landscape” that cannot be fully reduced. Therefore, instead of focusing solely on basic shapes or personal feelings, abstract landscape artists maintain a connection between the picture and the natural world.

In this lecture, we will examine the “Abstract Landscape” section of the “Reshaping the Landscape: Pompidou Center Collection (IV)” exhibition, exploring how artists in the Abstract Expressionist movement developed their new visual language to depict landscapes. Through works such as Zao Wou-Ki’s Vent and pieces from Olivier Debré’s series, we will showcase how artists combined Chinese freehand brushwork with Western lyrical abstraction, turning natural scenes into their emotional expression.