"1930–31 In Asia. At last his voyage[...] India [...] Indonesia, China [...] countries about which he will then have to think and ruminate for years. "

As a young man, Henri Michaux discovered that in order to progress towards self-knowledge he would first need to free himself of the socio-cultural barriers that shaped his way of thinking. This would lead him to explore non-western cultures and primitive art, and to become a tireless traveler who would journey through various continents. Of all his travels, his trip to Asia in 1930–31 would have the strongest effect on his work. On this voyage he went to India, China, and Japan, and it inspired his book entitled A Barbarian in Asia. It also sparked his lifelong interest in Eastern art, culture, and philosophy.