Chinas bestknown artist, ai weiwei, has urged david cameron to press beijing on human rights issues this week, as the prime minister leads the largestever british delegation to the country. Ai weiwei is best known for smashing a han dynasty urn, yet the chinese. Ai weiwei, wadegiles romanization ai weiwei, born may 18. Artistactivist ai weiwei to publish memoir in 2017 cbc news. Law of the journey is now on show at the national gallery in prague. Photo of ai weiwei in video thumbnail taken by susanne schwiertz, photographer for ringier ag, in 2017 at the kaufleuten lounge in zurich, switzerland. Ai weiwei untitled, from study of perspective series. The rihanna cover image is obviously instantly iconic. Since relocating to berlin following the return of his passport, many of the artists latest works focus on the refugee crisis of presentday europe. For a deeper understanding of this imporant figure within contemporary art, order a copy of our ai weiwei book, written by hans ulrich obrist. Ai weiwei phaidon contemporary artist series 9780714848891 by karen smith. I didnt expect a publication that has been touted as one of the best art books of 2012 to stand just six inches tall and contain only two photographs.
This exclusive cushion with the message a small act is worth a million thoughts. Kapoors simple, sunny image expresses an optimistic sensibility says the artist. While ais art was lauded internationally, the frequently provocative and subversive dimension of his art, as well as his political outspokenness. Ai weiwei is one of the best known artists working today.
He has translated the readymade into a new artistic language, fusing neolithic pottery, fourteenthcentury doors and seventeenthcentury temple beams into surprising, at times shocking sculptures. From ai weiwei to yayoi kusama, hans ulrich obrist to isa genzken, phaidon. Artist ai weiwei visits his sculpture, forever, recently installed in front of the gherkin in london on september 16, 2015. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Ai weiwei s study of perspective series is a misleading name for a wilfully provocative series. Ai weiwei, sir anish kapoor, gillian wearing, jamie hewlett, sir antony. For more on ceramics as fine art order a copy of the pot book by. But as chinese artist ai weiweis new book weiweiisms. Ai weiwei, odyssey 2016 at chambers fine art resembling paintings on a grecian urn, this wallpaper is an epic narrative about the plight of refugees, one of ai weiweis chief concerns in recent years. Ai weiwei, the chinese artist, activist and dissident, is working on a memoir.
Hirshhorn to host solo show by chinese dissident artist ai weiwei chinese artist ai weiwei, pictured in 2015, will be the focus of a summer exhibition at the hirshhorn museum and sculpture garden. Web exclusive oct 09, 2017 web exclusive oct 09, 2017 good fences make good neighbors. The quotable ai weiwei this collection of quotes demonstrates the elegant simplicity of ai weiweis thoughts on key aspects of his art, politics, and life. Press beijing on human rights, top chinese artist ai. Ai weiwei s work is an audacious blend of old and new, western and eastern, serious and irreverent. Ai weiwei follow hanging man in porcelain, 2009 porcelain in huanghuali wood frame 50 x 43. Ai weiwei is a chinese contemporary artist and activist. Weiweiisms by weiwei ai and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The short quotes presented in this elegant little black book have been carefully selected from articles, tweets, and interviews given by this acclaimed chinese artist and activist.
Ai weiwei defends the guggenheims china show against animal rights protests the museum faces a damnedifyoudo, damnedifyoudont scenario. Survey by karen smith, interview by hans ulrich obrist, focus by bernard fibicher, artists choice by ai qing, writings by ai weiwei. From a cellar in xinjiang to an underground studio on new yorks 7th street to his present underground studio in berlin, ai weiwei has been a refugee who. A cultural figure of international renown, ai weiwei is an activist, architect, curator, filmmaker, and chinas most famous artist. At a press conference in central park, ai explained why he chose. In 2011, ai weiwei was detained in china for 81 days without charges and had his passport confiscated. Ai weiwei turns the armory into a surveillance play park phaidon. Ai weiwei, anish kapoor, wolfgang tillmans and phaidon artists. Ai weiwei and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Ai weiwei launches controversial public art project. D 20 by ai weiwei, as installed at the royal academy.
Open in his criticism of the chinese government, ai was famously detained for months in 2011, then released to house arrest. Ai weiwei on his nyc exhibition exploring borders and nationalism. What picasso was to the 20th century, ai weiwei is to the 21st, and if our century is to be the chinese century, then its fitting that the greatest artist of the age is chinese. Discover more about his distinctive work in our ai weiwei book. In 2006, even though he could barely type, chinas most famous artist started blogging. I need to pay back my love, weiwei said at a press conference in central park on wednesday.
From chinas artistactivist, a citywide great wall the. See more ideas about ai weiwei, wei wei and contemporary art. Ai weiweis epic refugee boat installation is his largest. Ai often works with ancient materials beams from destroyed temples, han dynasty urns to create ingenious sculptures that break new artistic ground while commenting on the rapid transformation of contemporary china. Following a momentous season in new york city this past fallin which the chinese dissident artist had no fewer than four simultaneous. Also, ai states in an interview on fairytale that we are not doing. Ai weiweis first exhibition in turkey is inspired by. The language of ceramics, on now until 19 february 2017, includes works by both artists. The penguin random house division crown announced wednesday that it would release the book in the spring of 2017. Credit peter nichollsreuters after years of turning his own personal and political trials into highimpact art installations, as well as blog posts and instagram memes, the chinese artist ai weiwei has just signed a book deal to write his first proper memoir. The book was printed with the printing press at the stamperia del tintoretto di. In 2017, ai weiwei presented the installation law of the journey, a black inflatable boat 60 meters long and 3 meters wide carrying 258 humanoid figures, at the national gallery in prague. Ai s images are drawn from the artists monumental 2017 frieze, odyssey, which depicts the experience of migrants over the years.
Writings, interviews, and digital rants, 20062009 by ai weiwei 4. Ai weiwei on his lego portraits of fellow activists the chinese artist created trace while under house arrest, and he wasnt. Ai weiwei to publish a memoir in 2017 the new york times. Vikas shah mbe the philosopher richard kearne y surmised that politics is far too grave a matter for the politician and art is far too potent a medium for the artist. Ais images are drawn from the artists monumental 2017 frieze. Gillian wearing reprises her turner prize winning work 60 minutes silence which also appears on the cover of her contemporary artist series book with an image of 52 londoners. Rooted in his own cultural background, chinese artist ai weiweis. Ai weiwei is highly regarded, his views are respected, said woolums. Manifestos and immodest proposals from chinas most famous artist and activist, culled from his popular blog, shut down by chinese authorities in 2009. Beijing photographs 19932003 is an autobiography in pictures. This is the first comprehensive monograph on ai weiwei b. Installation view of law of the journey 2017 by ai weiwei. Ai weiweis 201718 new york citywide public art exhibition.
He referred to new york as a city every young artist wants to be. I need to pay back my love, weiwei said at a press conference in central park on. See available sculpture, prints and multiples, and photographs for sale and learn about the artist. Tao te ching, a book containing teachings attributed to. A master at communicating powerful ideas in astonishingly few words, ai weiwei is known for his innovative use of. Between 1995 and 2003 he took a series of politically charged selfies, showing not his face, but his raised middle finger pointing at such august political and cultural icons as tiananmen square, the eiffel tower, the reichstag and the white house. A global citizen, artist and thinker, ai weiwei moves between modes of. An artspace interview with the vitamin p3 featured artist on how art feeds our. Ai weiweis lego portraits of activists head to the. Taschens new book, meticulously edited and lavishly produced.
This is just a sign of another failure for the chinese government in a twoday digital conference, the artist shares his thoughts on the communist partys handling of the. Where is ai weiwei showing his new migrant artwork. Ai weiwei, anish kapoor, wolfgang tillmans and phaidon. Ai weiwei and his assistant gao yuan, went from beijing to interview feng zhenghu. Ai weiweis work is an audacious blend of old and new, western and eastern, serious.
In his sculptures he refashions artefacts and antiques into surprising, sometimes monumental constructions such as template 2007. Weiweiisms published by princeton university press in 2012 is a collection of ai weiweis thoughts on key aspects of his art, politics, and life. In april 2011, when ai disappeared into police custody for three months, he. Every book is hand signed by yang lian and ai weiwei. Ai weiweis epic refugee boat installation is his largest work to date. Ai weiwei and shepard fairey give trump the finger phaidon. The first comprehensive monograph on the life and work of activist and dissident chinese artist ai weiwei, this luxurious, silkwrapped tome takes the cake for summers most sumptuous gift book. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability.
Ai weiwei phaidon contemporary artist series karen smith, hans ulrich obrist, bernard fibicher, ai weiwei, craig garrett, michele robecchi on. Ai weiwei is chinas most celebrated contemporary artist, and its most outspoken domestic critic. October 14, 2015 new york, ny ai weiwei, one of the most prominent and provocative artists of our time, is writing a sweeping memoir scheduled for worldwide publication in spring 2017. One of ai weiweis new works stands in washington square park and is part of a series of works titled good fences make good neighbors, on oct. Inspired by the silk road, between turkey and china, the latest exhibition by controversial artist ai weiwei, entitled ai weiwei on porcelain, will focus on his wideranging practice in this medium showcasing an extensive selection of artworks from the artists oeuvre alongside new works, it will present a narrative informed by his life story and his approach to both the traditions of. He did not get his passport back from the government until 2015. Ai weiwei is known for his pithy, poetic words on freedom and creativity. Trace at hirshhorn, a focused but sprawling exhibition of recent works, will open at the smithsonians contemporary art museum on june 28. Hirshhorn to host solo show by chinese dissident artist ai.
Ai weiwei and his assistant gao yuan, went from beijing to interview feng. Special issue on art, society and contemporary china. For more than three years, ai weiwei turned out a steady stream of scathing social commentary, criticism of government policy, thoughts on art and. Ai weiwei defends the guggenheims china show against. From chinas artistactivist, a citywide great wall ai weiwei has endured frequent gripes that his activism has got the better of his art. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. For ai, this struggle is a war of words, says editor larry warsh in his introduction to weiweiisms, and his own wordsspoken, written, or tweetedare like a bullet out of the gun, ai weiwei repeatedly points out, and centuries of history attest, human rights and freedom of expression are not set by anyones agenda. As yet untitled, ai weiweis book will be published in print, digital and audio formats in the u. Ai himself fled china for europe after years of violence and intimidation. By 2012 however, he had fallen from favour and, after being placed under house arrest, inaugarated his own weiweicam, a selfimposed surveillence project, staged to aid his state. In his sculptures he refashions artefacts and antiques into surprising, sometimes monumental constructions such as temp.