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WeiWei's Zodiac Heads, Hirshorn Gallery
The artist Ai WeiWei has been in our news quite a bit lately as his activities are being circumscribed by his country, China. Lately, he has been under surveillance so has invited the agents watching him to come into his home and be able to see him in person, to report on exactly what he is doing.
The confrontational actions and attitudes of the artist have long been a part of his appeal. The art works that break with convention reflect a spirit that shows in his impatience with his country’s attempts to restrict and impede him in creations shown throughout the world.
The Serpentine Gallery in Kensington Gardens, London, U.K., benefits from his talents but he has been prevented from attending its opening celebrations. In recent years, WeiWei made a video about the connection between the arts and political life, “Life is never guaranteed to be safe.”
I was delighted to have the chance to view his work in the Hirshorn Museum courtyard, and offer photographs taken then for you here.
Zodiac Heads Hirshorn courtyard
Description of WeiWei's Zodiac
5 Comments
hi Ruth, longtime lurker here but this is my first time commenting. Ai WeiWei is a bit of a hero to me. His design and philosophy about the Nest Stadium built for the Olympics is very inspirational. I love the idea that a a nest/stadium could be a place of refuge and nurturing for the spirit of the Chinese people.
His other work and his outspokenness about censorship and politics is equally relevant, to me at least.
One of my favorite quotes of his — “Freedom is about our right to question everything.”
Thank you, Ruth. His various works about the commodification of culture are mind-bending.
His history in the US is certainly foundational to his work, which never fails to cut new trenches. He is really brilliant.
Glad to see him here again. I wrote a diary about him, when he was disappeared last year.
Thanks, and welcome. So much value to his works, and running into the Zodiac at the Hirshorn was both a surprise, and a boost for me. His strength influences us all, and hopefully gets through to the government that can’t make him give up his ideals.
Thanks, and yes, he’s given us a gift that can’t help but be valued.