Forever Bicycles
High tail it to the Brooklyn Museum to catch the work of the indomitable Ai Weiwei before it closes next month. I won't ramble on about what I saw (tho I could) but will share my pics and the exhibit's own tags with descriptions.
But, go go go, if you can!
If you are not familiar with Ai Weiwei, here's this from the Brooklyn Museum's website:
Ai Weiwei is one of China’s most prolific and provocative contemporary artists. Featuring over forty works spanning more than twenty years, Ai Weiwei: According to What? explores universal topics of culture, history, politics, and tradition, showcasing the artist’s remarkably interdisciplinary career as a photographer, sculptor, architect, and activist.
These works spotlight issues of freedom of expression, as well as individual and human rights both in China and globally. Many use minimal forms and methods, while others manipulate traditional furniture, ancient pottery, and daily objects in ways that question cultural values and challenge political authority.
Also, check out the compelling documentary "Never Sorry" on Netflix.
Enjoy this visual, intellectual and at times very emotional feast………..
Table with Three Legs
Table with Two Legs on the Wall
Kippe
Moon Chest
Moon Chest
China Log
Cube in Ebony
Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn
Colored Vases
Teahouse
Coca-Cola Vase
Chateau Lafite
This powerful sculpture was crafted from straightened rebar rods recovered from the disaster sites of the Sichuan earthquake in 2008. Each was hand-pounded from its tangled shape into a flat bar. The far wall contains the names of over 5000 victims of the earthquake.
Snake Ceiling
Snake Ceiling
Snake Ceiling
He Xie (river crab)
Bowls of Pearls
Bowls of Pearls
And finally, the dioramas... These were secreted out of China in order to be displayed at the Venice Biennale 2013 and are now on display in the Brooklyn Museum as part of this exhibit. The dioramas, constructed in 2.5 ton iron boxes, reconstruct scenes at half scale from Ai Weiwei's detention in 2011, when he was held prisoner for 81 days in a secret prison by a paramilitary unit.
His every moment saw him under the watchful eyes of his captors.
Go to Brooklyn!
