Ai Weiwei
25 Jul - 08 Nov 2009
AI WEIWEI
July 25 - November 8, 2009
Venue: Mori Art Museum
53F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minatoku, Tokyo, Japan
Organizer: Mori Art Museum
Grant from: The Obayashi Foundation
Support: Nicolas Feuillatte, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE
Ai Weiwei is one of contemporary China's most exciting creators, with a range of activities including everything from art and architecture to design, publishing, and curating. In the last few years, Ai's international reputation has grown dramatically through a series of highly acclaimed projects, including his contribution to Documenta 12 in 2007, and a collaboration with architects Herzog & de Meuron on the "Bird's Nest" Olympic Stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"Ai Weiwei: According to What?" is one of the largest solo shows for the artist ever held, featuring 26 works made since the 1990s, including 6 created specifically for this exhibition. The diverse works – ranging from sculptures and photographs to video and site specific installations – are organized into three sections: "Fundamental Forms and Volumes," "Structure and Craftsmanship" and "Reforming and Inheriting Tradition." In addition, Ai’s architectural projects since 1999, his publication projects and the photograph works he took while he was living in New York are presented in a special "archival" room. Ai’s practice is interdisciplinary and transcends artistic genres in a classic sense, but when viewed in its entirety it gives us unique insights into the cultural, historical, and societal contexts from which it emerged. This in turn prompts questions in the viewer: What exists? And more importantly, according to what does it exist? From what context did we emerge, and to where are we headed now?
Despite being based in a country that is experiencing one of the most rapid periods of economic and social changes ever seen, Ai Weiwei manages in his works to link the past with the present and the individual with the world. This exhibition provides the opportunity to experience the unique perspectives of this evocative creator.
July 25 - November 8, 2009
Venue: Mori Art Museum
53F Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minatoku, Tokyo, Japan
Organizer: Mori Art Museum
Grant from: The Obayashi Foundation
Support: Nicolas Feuillatte, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE
Ai Weiwei is one of contemporary China's most exciting creators, with a range of activities including everything from art and architecture to design, publishing, and curating. In the last few years, Ai's international reputation has grown dramatically through a series of highly acclaimed projects, including his contribution to Documenta 12 in 2007, and a collaboration with architects Herzog & de Meuron on the "Bird's Nest" Olympic Stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"Ai Weiwei: According to What?" is one of the largest solo shows for the artist ever held, featuring 26 works made since the 1990s, including 6 created specifically for this exhibition. The diverse works – ranging from sculptures and photographs to video and site specific installations – are organized into three sections: "Fundamental Forms and Volumes," "Structure and Craftsmanship" and "Reforming and Inheriting Tradition." In addition, Ai’s architectural projects since 1999, his publication projects and the photograph works he took while he was living in New York are presented in a special "archival" room. Ai’s practice is interdisciplinary and transcends artistic genres in a classic sense, but when viewed in its entirety it gives us unique insights into the cultural, historical, and societal contexts from which it emerged. This in turn prompts questions in the viewer: What exists? And more importantly, according to what does it exist? From what context did we emerge, and to where are we headed now?
Despite being based in a country that is experiencing one of the most rapid periods of economic and social changes ever seen, Ai Weiwei manages in his works to link the past with the present and the individual with the world. This exhibition provides the opportunity to experience the unique perspectives of this evocative creator.