Ai Weiwei: Art / Architecture at the Kunsthaus Bregenz

Ai Weiwei
Art / Architecture
Moon Chest, 2008
Huanghuali wood
8 pieces
320 x 160 x 80 cm
Installation view 3rd floor, Kunsthaus Bregenz
Photo: Markus Tretter
© Ai Weiwei, Kunsthaus Bregenz

Ai Weiwei in 2007

Ai Weiwei: Art / Architecture at the Kunsthaus Bregenz Kunsthaus Bregenz presents a big solo exhibition devoted to Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who is still forbidden to leave Peking or to give press interviews. July 16 to October 16, 2011]]>

Source: Kunsthaus Bregenz / theartwolf.com

More than one year ago, Ai Weiwei was invited to mount a solo exhibition at the Kunsthaus Bregenz. As the Museum says in a press release, at that time “no one could have foreseen the present situation“. On April 3rd, Ai Weiwei was arrested by Chinese authorities just before catching a flight to Hong Kong. Many influential personalities protested against his arrest, starting the “Free Ai Weiwei street art campaign”. On 22 June 2011, Weiwei was released, even though he is forbidden to leave Peking for the next 12 months.

The exhibition begins with a group of architectural models, photographs, plans, and video documentations of specific building projects. A highlight of this section is the architectural model of the main Stadium for the 2008 Olympic Games, designed by Herzog & de Meuron in collaboration with Ai Weiwei. A less famous collaboration with the Swiss studio is “Jindong New District”.

On the next two floors, the concept of architecture becomes more abstract. “Moon Chest” (eight pieces of Huanghuali wood mesuring 320 x 160 x 80 cm.) is a minimalist work of art that -according to the press note- “was realized in relation to no specific building“.

Due to the ban on travel imposed on Ai Weiwei, his presence at the exhibition is unlikely.

Related content

Ai Weiwei: According to What? (exhibition at the Mori Art Museum, 2008)
Ai Weiwei – The Unilever Series (news, 2010)