Ai Weiwei poses in 2009 at the Mori Art Museum inTokyo with his work "Provisional Landscape" (2002-2008). It's now on display at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington.
'Ai Weiwei: According to What?' —
Ai Weiwei poses in 2009 at the Mori Art Museum inTokyo with his work "Provisional Landscape" (2002-2008). It's now on display at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington.
courtesy Mori Art Museum, Tokyo
"Forever" (2003).
'Ai Weiwei: According to What?' —
"Forever" (2003).
courtesy Cathy Carver
"Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn" (1995/2009), top, is a photographic triptych that confronts the power of ancient symbols, according to the museum, while "Colored Vases" (2007-2010) seeks to replace those symbols with new works.
'Ai Weiwei: According to What?' —
"Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn" (1995/2009), top, is a photographic triptych that confronts the power of ancient symbols, according to the museum, while "Colored Vases" (2007-2010) seeks to replace those symbols with new works.
courtesy Cathy Carver
"Cube Light" (2008) is nearly 14 feet on each side and takes up an entire gallery.
'Ai Weiwei: According to What?' —
"Cube Light" (2008) is nearly 14 feet on each side and takes up an entire gallery.
courtesy Cathy Carver
"Beijing's 2008 Olympic Stadium" (2005-08) shows photos of the stadium while under construction. The sculptures in the foreground are "Divina Proportione" (2006) and "F-Size" (2011).
'Ai Weiwei: According to What?' —
"Beijing's 2008 Olympic Stadium" (2005-08) shows photos of the stadium while under construction. The sculptures in the foreground are "Divina Proportione" (2006) and "F-Size" (2011).
courtesy Cathy Carver
"Map of China" (2008).
'Ai Weiwei: According to What?' —
"Map of China" (2008).
courtesy Ai Weiwei
"He Xie" (detail, 2010) includes more than 3,000 porcelain river crabs. The Chinese word for "river crab" is a homophone for the word for "harmonious" as used in the Communist slogan. "He Xie" is slang for online censorship, according to the museum.
'Ai Weiwei: According to What?' —
"He Xie" (detail, 2010) includes more than 3,000 porcelain river crabs. The Chinese word for "river crab" is a homophone for the word for "harmonious" as used in the Communist slogan. "He Xie" is slang for online censorship, according to the museum.
courtesy Cathy Carver
"Snake Ceiling" (2009) uses hundreds of backpacks to represent children's backpacks left behind after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
'Ai Weiwei: According to What?' —
"Snake Ceiling" (2009) uses hundreds of backpacks to represent children's backpacks left behind after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.
courtesy Cathy Carver
"Grapes" (2010), left, transforms Qing Dynasty-era stools into a new vision. In the background are "New York Photographs" (1983-1993), which documents Ai's years in the downtown scene, and "Tea House" (2009).
'Ai Weiwei: According to What?' —
"Grapes" (2010), left, transforms Qing Dynasty-era stools into a new vision. In the background are "New York Photographs" (1983-1993), which documents Ai's years in the downtown scene, and "Tea House" (2009).
courtesy Cathy Carver
"Straight" (2008-12) is made up of 38 tons of steel rebar collected from buildings that collapsed in the Sichuan earthquake.
'Ai Weiwei: According to What?' —
"Straight" (2008-12) is made up of 38 tons of steel rebar collected from buildings that collapsed in the Sichuan earthquake.
courtesy Cathy Carver
"Coca-Cola Vase" (2007), left, is a product of a new aesthetic, meant to replace older or outdated works, according to the museum. "Moon Chest" (2008) is at right.
'Ai Weiwei: According to What?' —
"Coca-Cola Vase" (2007), left, is a product of a new aesthetic, meant to replace older or outdated works, according to the museum. "Moon Chest" (2008) is at right.
courtesy Cathy Carver
"New York Photographs" (1983-93), left; "Beijing's 2008 Olympic Stadium" (2005-08), center; "Kippe" (2006), right.
'Ai Weiwei: According to What?' —
"New York Photographs" (1983-93), left; "Beijing's 2008 Olympic Stadium" (2005-08), center; "Kippe" (2006), right.
courtesy Cathy Carver