Laurent Fabius Arrives in Shanghai in a New Avatar

This month, Fosun Foundation Shanghai presents "Vers l'idéal (In Paradise)," the first solo exhibition in China by Laurent Fabius, former French Prime Minister and President of the Constitutional Council, who is now better known as an abstract painter.

Curated by Shen Qilan, the exhibition features 50 paintings done over the last 15 years that trace Fabius' artistic path from lawmaker to painter, as well as from introspection to revelation.

"Vers l'idéal" explores the relationship between reality, memory and spiritual pursuit. Through five thematic chapters – "Chaos of Nature," "Order and Aspiration," "Disorientation of the Modern," "Return to Sensibility" and "Reconstruction of Harmony" – the exhibition invites viewers into a contemplative world where color and texture become instruments of thought.

Drawing inspiration from masters and friends such as Pierre Soulages and Yan Pei-Ming, Fabius translates the precision of political reasoning into an expressive visual language of color, rhythm and tension.

His layered compositions shift between luminosity and density, reflecting both the turbulence of the human spirit and the quiet resilience of nature. Works such as "Forêt primaire (Primary Forest)" and "(There is no) Planet B" intertwine ecological reflection with human emotion, offering a poetic meditation on civilization and the fragility of our shared paradise.

Exhibition Info

Date: October 16-30

Venue: Fosun Foundation Shanghai

上海复星艺术中心

Address: 600 Zhongshan Rd E2

中山东二路600号

Admission: 20 yuan