II. Entering the new world
The Zhou Brothers left for Chicago via Shanghai on November 7, 1986, with thirty dollars in their pockets and fifty paintings in their suitcase. They were not able to reach the U.S. in time for the group show, but arrived before the November opening of their first solo show at East-West Gallery. The show attracted quite a lot of attention, but did not sell a single painting. The people who came seemed to like their works, but because no one knew who the Zhou Brothers were, they hesitated to purchase their paintings.