The Chinese artist is one of the most celebrated contemporary artists in the East and West, a global citizen who calls for political investigation within his wide practice. Ai Weiwei investigates and questions institutions and regimes at the core of his work, he measures our existence in relation to economic, political, and social forces, while his practice is rooted in Chinese tradition he executes within a contemporary and conceptual creativity.

His provocative blend of Chinese tradition and craftsmanship within fully contemporary practice serves his strong criticism of human rights violations and condemnations of governmental corruption. His own life since childhood has been marked by his struggles and fights against the Chinese Government. His father, a renewed poet, was declared “class enemy” and sent to labor camp with his family. Migrating to New York was his opportunity to expand his artistic vocabularies where he stayed for over a decade. During this time, he became influenced by the works of Marcel Duchamp, Andy Warhol, and Hasper Johns.
He was secretly detained without any official charges being filed for 81 days from April 3 to June 22, 2011 by the Chinese government, and his passport was held for 4 years afterward. Since being allowed to leave China in 2015 he has produced monumental installations and artworks that advocate for refugee rights and make awareness on the global crisis of displacement.

Ai Weiwei

Dissident artist Ai Weiwei is famous for conceptual artworks that challenge authority and explore the links between the contemporary world and traditional Chinese culture.

https://data.wengcontemporary.com/media/Ai_Weiwei_Bombs_Content_Sheet_UPDATED_2024.pdf

Fifty bombs of 3D rendering of conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction, Bombs, 2019 by Ai Weiwei addresses critical global conditions, including political conflicts and war, that have resulted in massive casualties and the displacement of more than 70 million refugees.

Ai Weiwei has said: "I think China is my readymade. I think the political situation is my readymade. The refugee condition. I am not a person who has a clear plan. I flow just like a leaf in the river. Once you see so many people so unfortunate, then you start to look at the different levels. Who put them in that condition? Who made all those civil wars? Who has benefitted from those wars? A very unnatural act to have a war. Wittgenstein, the philosopher, once said "the meaning is the usage". So human society designs bombs for their usage. They have a super technical function. But it shows deeply about our society, who we are. I sometimes am extremely serious, but at the same time, I am laughing about it. I have to function both ways. Otherwise, you're not going to survive."

Show all results