Cubic Meter Tables 2006
huali wood 13 pieces, each 100x100x100cm
©FAKE Studio
Bowl of Pearls 2006
porcelain, freshwater pearls
each h. 43cm, Ø 100 cm
©FAKE Studio
Map of China 2004
Tieli wood from dismantled temples of the Qing Dynasty
(1644-1911)
h. 51 cm, Ø200 cm
©FAKE Studio
AI WEIWEI: ACCORDING TO WHAT?
The Mori Art Museum presents “Ai Weiwei: According to What?” from Saturday,25 July to Sunday, 8 November 2009. Ai Weiwei is a Chinese artist whose activitiescover a wide range of genres, from art and architecture to design and publishing
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His international reputation was cemented by a series of highly acclaimed projectsover the last few years, including Fairytale, his contribution to Documenta 12in 2007 for which he brought 1,001 Chinese people to Europe, as well as hiscollaboration with architects Herzog & de Meuron on the “Bird’s Nest” OlympicStadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Up until now, Ai’s work has been focusedon the connections between art, culture, and society, and on the role of theindividual within society. In recent years, he has moved away from the architecturalprojects that had been a major part of his practice since 1999 and adopted looserparameters that allow him to explore more freely such timeless themes as culture,history, politics and tradition.
This exhibition will show 26 works made since 1990s including six new works,making it one of the largest solo shows for the artist ever held. The subtitle,“According to What?” comes from a painting by Jasper Johns, the artist whose workwas the catalyst for Ai’s entry into the contemporary art world. It hints at one of theexhibition’s goals: to explore the connections between Ai’s work and its artistic, cultural and historical backgrounds. The exhibits arevaried, ranging from sculptures to photographs, video and site specific installations. They are organized into three sections: “FundamentalForms and Volumes,” “Structure and Craftsmanship” and “Reforming and Inheriting Tradition.” In this way, the fundamental approachand motivations that unite Ai’s myriad creative activities are brought into relief.
In the first section, “Fundamental Forms and Volumes,” the exhibits include a series of cubic and polyhedral forms reminiscent ofminimal art and a new installation consisting of blocks of Chinese tea. A video showing the city of Beijing as though closed-circuittelevision cameras is also exhibited. In “Structure and Craftsmanship” works from the simple but astoundingly minutely carved“Maps” series, the “Furniture” series made since 1997 and an object, called Moon Chest, which straddles art, architecture anddesign, are exhibited. The final section, “Reforming and Inheriting Tradition,” contains a series of works based on ceramics from theNeolithic period and Han and Tang Dynasties and an installation consisting of reassembled parts from Qing Dynasty architecture. Inaddition, the exhibition includes a documentary video (2 hrs 30 mins) of Fairytale, the project from Documenta 12, which couldbe described as “social sculpture,” and a new version of Chandelier and Snake Ceiling.
Despite being based in a country that is experiencing one of the most rapid periods of economic and social change ever seen, AiWeiwei manages in his artworks to link the past with the present and the individual with the world. We invite you to see this exhibitionand share the visions of contemporary China’s most exciting creator.
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