From 15 May to 15 June, the Rougemont Hotel & Spa will host a solo exhibition by Chinese artist Zhao Mengge, currently in residence at the hotel. Known for her poetic and spiritually infused oil paintings, Zhao brings her refined aesthetic and cross-cultural vision to the heart of the Swiss Alps, offering a rare glimpse into an artistic world shaped by both Taoist philosophy and European modernism.

Zhao’s current body of work—glimpses of which can already be seen on her Instagram—draws direct inspiration from the alpine landscape and traditional chalet architecture surrounding her in Rougemont. Though still in progress, these new paintings retain the distinctive elements of her style: elongated, fluid female forms, graceful postures, and a dreamlike atmosphere rendered in soft, nuanced tones.

She gained serious attention in Europe with her 2023 exhibition La grâce éternelle at the Parisian gallery LooLooLook. Her paintings reflect what she describes as a “fusion of artistic, philosophical, and spiritual aspirations,” rooted in the Taoist principle of harmony between human beings and nature. Her subjects—often idealised female figures—evoke serenity, introspection, and a sense of shared humanity that transcends cultural boundaries.

Artistic references in her work span East and West: the expressive lines and sensuality of Sanyu and Pan Yuliang meet the colour fields and decorative rhythm of Matisse. Yet Zhao’s style remains unmistakably her own, marked by gentle compositions and an almost meditative use of colour. Her figures often appear in quiet contemplation, their hands extended in gestures of offering or curiosity—symbols, perhaps, of the artist’s desire for connection and understanding.

This exhibition in Rougemont is not just a continuation of Zhao’s artistic journey, but a deepening of it. Nestled in a landscape where stillness and grandeur coexist, her paintings feel right at home—echoes of an inner world shaped by silence, beauty, and the search for meaning.

The exhibition will be open to the public daily at the Rougemont Hotel & Spa from 15 May to 15 June 2025.

All are warmly invited to the opening reception on Friday, 16 May at 6:00 PM—an evening of art, cocktails, and live music in the elegant surroundings of the hotel.

by Jeanette Wichmann

About the Artist
Zhao Mengge was born in Henan, China, and is currently based in Beijing, where she works as a professional artist and member of the Association of Chinese Artists. A graduate of the prestigious Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, she also spent time as a visiting researcher at Georgetown University in the United States. Today, she shares her expertise as a guest professor in artistic creation at the Chinese University of Communication in Beijing. Zhao’s work has been featured in over 60 solo and group exhibitions worldwide, including at major institutions such as the National Museum of Fine Arts of China and the National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing, as well as in France, Italy, the U.S., Japan, and beyond. Her numerous accolades include the Nomination Award of the 11th National Art Exhibition and the Women’s Prize for Cultural and Artistic Achievement.