Lalan (artist)

Lalan, born Xie Jing-lan (Chinese: 謝景蘭; 1921–1995), was a Chinese-French multidisciplinary artist. Lalan was among the early practitioners of integrated arts, incorporating painting, music, dance, and poetry into her performances.

Lalan was born in Guizhou, China. She received professional vocal training at the Shanghai Music Academy, and then studied composition and modern dance after relocating to Paris in 1948 with her then husband, painter Zao Wou-ki.

Lalan did not start painting until the age of 37. She began her independent artistic career in painting, composing electronic music and choreography in modern dance. In 1975, she received the Chevalier medal for the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) by the French Ministry of Culture. Lalan spent majority of her time in France with her husband French artist Marcel Van Thienen. She died in a car accident in 1995.