趙無極

款識：
無極ZAO 86 （右下）

北京蘇富比〈馬可波羅歸來〉義賣（一九八八年六月五日，拍品編號一）
亞洲私人藏者購自上述拍賣
亞洲私人收藏

〈中外現代名畫與藝術品展覽〉北京勞動人民文化宮，北京，一九八八年五月二十七日至六月四日

This work is in overall very good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

趙無極名鐫長城之見證

趙無極是旅居西方的中國文化使者，除了以自身創作融和中西，亦一直致力推動文化交流。1988年，為了保育中國長城及意大利水鄉威尼斯，一場為期十天、由聯文國教科文組織（UNESCO）監督的「馬可･波羅歸來」（The Return of Marco Polo）考察之旅在北京展開，並由蘇富比在北京故宮太廟舉行的慈善拍賣為壓軸高潮。據英國維諾奇子爵（John Julius Norwich, The Viscount Norwich）在當年拍賣前言指出，這是「有史以來在中國舉辦的第一次這樣的拍賣」（a Fine Art Auction Sale by Sotbeby’s, the first such sale ever held in China）。本幅《無題》即由趙無極慷慨捐出，不但作為此場歷史性拍賣的第一號拍品，藝術家之名亦因此鐫刻於慕田峪長城之上，至今猶存。

無聲樂韻 ，水墨騷靈

經歷五、六○年代以油彩創作為主軸，趙無極自七○年代起重啟水墨探索，從媒材以至藝術風格，均顯示出強烈的東方精神，奠定其「無境時期」風格主軸。1986年完成的《無題》，即見墨彩相互暈染交錯，或揮撒，或流淌，形造出一份率性律動的隨興感。有別於六○年代作品的凜冽磅薄，《無題》的墨彩運動更顯飄逸瀟灑，濃近淡遠的力量自剛而柔，半透明的淡墨渲染，彷彿開啟了邁向無垠的宇宙之門，予人無盡幻想。畫面留白的空間，似是神秘攝人的空間，平添空靈感覺。整體墨彩自中心外四周擴散，張弛韻律躍然紙上，猶如婉轉入魂的騷靈樂章，富於內在張力。《無題》在1988年拍出之後，旋即進入現藏家之手，經歷二十八年再度釋出，誠為具備歷史與藝術價值之珍品。