Ai Weiwei: Artist Analysis

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The artwork of Ai Weiwei encompasses the artist’s relationship with his culture, government and self-identity. The artwork I have chosen is “Sunflower Seeds” 2010, which filled the huge Turbine Hall of London’s Tate Modern. The installation of 100,000 million sunflower seeds also included booths on each side of the exhibit housing video interactive video equipment allowing the viewers to ask questions to Ai that he answered via Tate website. The other installation is in “Evidence” series 2014, named “Stools”. The “Evidence” exhibit was unveiled first in Berlin’s Martin-Gropius Bau museum.
These two art installations convey similar meaning, however using unconventional materials and construction/assembly of the installations. I wanted to document my initial thoughts on both the artist and the chosen art installations before researching in-depth. Upon first viewing and looking at Ai Wei Wei’s art in general, I did not have an immediate connection. I was very turned off with many of his pieces while trying to narrow down what art I wanted to review. Understanding that art is a reflection and creation of the artist’s creativity, emotion, cultural awareness and surroundings. His art can come off as disrespectful, angry and offending to some. That is what I felt at times paging through the book “Ai Weiwei, According to What? Once I selected “Sunflower Seeds” and “Evidence” series “Stools” the installations provoked associated questions, such as: why, why so many, why these
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He wants to provoke the audience to think beyond the art and find meaning. For Ai, it is his voice when being told to be silent. It’s as if he has a love hate relationship with China. He values his culture and the people and dislikes the government and policy that hold him and the people of China back. However, he is outspoken on many topics and wants the world to pause and reflect on the actions of the world and all who reside in

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