1 / 8

Ai Weiwei's Thought-Provoking Art: A Reflection on Tragedy and Government Response

Explore Ai Weiwei's powerful exhibit at the Hirshhorn Museum, where he pays tribute to student earthquake victims and questions the government's actions. Discover the symbolism behind his art pieces, such as the backpacks and colored vases, and delve into his commentary on ancient and modern culture in China. Through his work, Ai Weiwei sheds light on internet censorship and his confrontations with the government, prompting viewers to contemplate his daring approach to activism through art.

ginata
Download Presentation

Ai Weiwei's Thought-Provoking Art: A Reflection on Tragedy and Government Response

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Ai Weiwei: According to What? at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington D.C., 2012.

  2. As you enter the exhibit at the Hirshhorn, you are immediately met with the sound of students’ names being read aloud in a recording broadcasted overhead. The names are also written in Chinese along the wall. Ai Weiwei has compiled a list of over 5,200 names of students killed in what he calls “tofu” or shoddily constructed schools during the 2008 earthquake. What message is he sending to the government about their response to this disaster?

  3. Backpacksnames • This snake, made from backpacks, is at the entrance of the Hirshhorn exhibit. Each backpack represents a student who lost their life in the Sichuan earthquake in 2008. What message is Ai Weiwei conveying about the government’s handling of this disaster?

  4. Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn, 1995/2009; Colored Vases, 2007-2010. What kind of message is Ai Weiwei sending about the role of ancient and modern culture in China by dropping and coloring traditional Chinese vases?

  5. Map of China, 2008 • Using traditional Chinese techniques, this sculpture is a map of China made of salvaged wood from dismantled Qing Dynasty. The work can be understood as a symbol of the unity of many diverse thoughts, ideas, and individuals found in China.

  6. He Xie, 2010 • What message is Ai Weiwei sending about internet censorship?

  7. Surveillance Camera, 2010 How does this represent Ai Weiwei’s experiences with the Chinese government?

  8. Why did Ai Weiwei create such controversial pieces of art? Would his message be similar or different if it were projected through writings? Discuss.

More Related