Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei - Galerie Max Hetzler Videos
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Chinese conceptual artist Ai Weiwei explores the multitude and complexity of the challenges within our contemporary society. Known for observing and commenting political and social changes of his home country but also the Western world, his artistic practice revolves around sensitive themes such as human rights, freedom of speech, economic exploitation or environmental damages and often takes a step beyond the art world. As a fine connoisseur of Chinese art and antiques, Ai's work often reflects on the perception of Chinese culture and the alienation of ancient objects. In his sculptures and installations, he favours the use of traditional materials such as porcelain, jade, marble or precious wood while being also well known for his films and photographs as well as his architectural and curatorial work.

"Ai Weiwei transforms his life into art, turning the things he encounters and the events he experiences into artistic statements. Yet this personal aspect is often coupled with references to specifically Chinese material and […] traditions. Regardless of whether he deconstructs these traditions or reshapes them, thus imbuing them with new qualities, their original meanings remain present in his works. By identifying and interpreting these references, one may hope to contribute to a better understanding of the multifaceted and highly complex dimensions of his art."

Uta Rahman-Steinert Ambivalent Deconstruction. Ai Weiwei's approach to tradition in Ai Weiwei. Evidence, Prestel, 2014

Image: Surveillance Camera and Plinth, 
2015
, marble
, 52 x 52 x 120 cm

Solo Exhibitions

Ai Weiwei - Galerie Max Hetzler

Ai Weiwei

57, rue du Temple, Paris

3 September – 8 October 2016

Selected Institutional Exhibitions

Ai Weiwei

Libero

Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, Florence

23 September 2016 – 22 January 2017
Ai Weiwei

#SafePassage

Foam, Amsterdam

16 September – 7 December 2016
Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei at Cycladic

Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens

20 May – 30 October 2016

Biography

Show Vita
Show Selected Bibliography

Selected Press

The New York Times 2016

Financial Times Weekend 2015

News

Ai Weiwei

Life Cycle (solo show)
Marciano Art Foundation, Los Angeles
28 September 2018 - 3 March 2019

Marciano Art Foundation is pleased to announce the next MAF Project in the Theater Gallery, a solo exhibition of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, on view at the Foundation from September 28, 2018 — March 3, 2019. This exhibition is the artist’s first major institutional exhibition in Los Angeles and will ...
Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei

LOOK! LISTEN! Art is in the churches (group show)
Hauptkirche St. Katharinen, Hamburg
27 May - 22 July 2018

Art and the church have a long mutual past. In many areas, the history of European art illustrates the Christian accounts of God and Man. We find it in the windows of church interiors, on the walls, the altars and on the pulpits.

However, in the modern era, art and the church often go separate ...

Ai Weiwei

Fan-Tan (solo show)
Mucem, Marseille
20 June – 12 November 2018

The Mucem is hosting Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, one of the major actors on the international art scene. The work of the photographer, architect, sculptor, performer, film-maker and social network activist combines Chinese thought with contemporary art, namely drawing his inspiration from Marcel ...
Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei (solo show)
Various locations, The Contemporary Austin, Austin
3 June 2017 - ongoing

The Contemporary Austin and Waller Creek Conservancy announce an upcoming two-part outdoor exhibition of large-scale installations by Chinese artist and political activist Ai Weiwei, to go on view to the public beginning June 3, 2017, as part of The Contemporary Austin’s partnership with Waller ...
Ai Weiwei