The originals were part of a water clock and were arranged around a. The twelve bronze busts, each four metres high, are inspired by the chinese zodiac. Ai weiweis zodiac heads its political prospero the economist. Designed by the italian jesuit giuseppe castiglione for the court of. Surrounding the fountain in the center of the hirshhorn, the zodiac heads have an interactive appeal as viewers pose for pictures in front of their zodiac animal. Tax evasion allegations and a career retrospective in detention, his public installation circle of animals zodiac heads, which featured bronze sculptures inspired by the chinese zodiac, was unveiled in new york city and london. He immediately connected to the him and his work, and over the years, a friendship developed. The heads, on display at princeton university, are replicas of zodiac heads once at the old summer palace and are a commentary on historical.
The work had been created for the sao paulo biennial in 2010. Ai weiweis animal heads offer critique of chinese nationalism. Ai weiwei is the most famous chinese artist living today. Ai weiweis circle of animalszodiac heads features twelve largescale bronze. Caohumanity at uta artist space through december 1. Larry warsh first met the artist ai weiwei on a trip to beijing in 2005. Ai weiweis giant animal heads at the hirshhorn fountain. I was in jail 81 days, but after 20 days my brain became completely empty.
During the time he was unable to leave the country, weiwei began one of his bestknown performances. This is a set of twelve animal heads representing the signs of the zodiac, realized in. Ai weiweis circle of animals zodiac heads features twelve largescale bronze animal heads, each depicting a segment of the ancient chinese zodiac. Internationally acclaimed chinese contemporary artist ai weiwei has reinterpreted the twelve bronze animal heads representing the traditional chinese zodiac that once adorned the famed fountainclock of the yuanming yuan, an imperial retreat in beijing. This book compares ai weiweis work to the original zodiac heads. The chinese dissident and art world superstar ai weiwei cant be everywhere at once, but his art certainly can. Created in 2010, the zodiac heads a rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig are inspired by those which once comprised a water clockfountain at the. As a major work of public art, it is an extraordinary accomplishment in its own right. Here, ai weiwei employs the ancient chinese art of papercutting to reflect on his life and work. The missing chinese artist is worldfamous for his dissidence and bravely attacking his government, but on the eve of two new ai weiwei shows in. Books by ai weiwei author of ai weiwei speaks goodreads. The meaning of ai weiweis 12 zodiac heads telegraph.
Its a piece that resonates on lots of different levels, according to kate levin, commissioner of the new york city department of cultural affairs. The work is a reimagining of a qing dynasty zodiac waterclock system at the old summer palace near beijing, which was looted in 1850 during the second opium war. Where to see ai weiweis circle of animals zodiac heads. Ai weiweis circle of animalszodiac heads features twelve largescale bronze animal heads, each depicting a segment of the ancient chinese zodiac. Life cycle at the marciano art foundation through march 3, 2019. Ai weiwei, circle of animals zodiac heads rat 2010 bronze. Ai weiwei s circle of animals zodiac heads features twelve largescale bronze animal heads, each depicting a segment of the ancient chinese zodiac. Circle of animals zodiac heads is the artists first major public sculpture project. Ai weiwei at the hirshhorn smithsonian libraries unbound. Its a very, very strong test i think more severe than any physical punishment. As an activist, he has been openly critical of the chinese governments stance on democracy and human rights. As an activist, he calls attention to human rights violations on an epic scale. Ai weiwei conducts a carnival of the animals karen smith the original and the copy. Ai weiweis work is at the lisson gallery, 5254 and 29 bell street, london nw1 5da until 16 july.
Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. Circle of animalszodiac heads, a monumental 12part sculptural suite by the artist. Ai weiwei confronts uncomfortable truths within chinese and western history. Circle of animalszodiac heads art installation by ai weiwei. He has collaborated with ai weiwei on several projects, including the public art installation circle of animals zodiac heads 2010. This exhibition catalog explores the 2010 monumental work circle of animalszodiac heads, created by internationally acclaimed contemporary chinese artist and social activist ai weiwei. Ai weiweis circle of animals zodiac heads has been a popular attraction at the hirshhorn since its arrival in april. Larry warsh has been active in the art world for more than thirty years. Ai grew up in the far northwest of china, where he lived under harsh conditions due to his fathers exile. I have no idea what to make of circle of animalszodiac heads. Warsh visited ai while under house arrest from 20112015, and during that time helped to publish a book of his sayings, weiweiisms princeton university. The official world tour for circle of animals zodiac heads was launched in new york city at the historic pulitzer fountain at grand army plaza in may 2011. His circle of animalszodiac heads is in the courtyard of somerset house, strand, london wc2r 1la until 26 june. Ai weiweis latest work of art, the circle of animalszodiac heads, which was unveiled in new york today, has several layers of significance.
Selected from articles, interviews, and conversations, ai weiweis words speak to the profound urgency of the global refugee crisis, the resilience and vulnerability of the human condition, and the role of art in providing a voice for the voiceless. Ai weiwei is one of the best known artists working today. Ai weiweis circle of animalszodiac heads contemporary art. Though ai weiwei has been detained for more than a month, his voice resounded throughout new york yesterday at an unveiling of. All i wanted was a dictionary, even the simplest one. Ai weiweis animal heads unveiled in toronto design. Ai weiwei and the fate of the zodiac heads charles merewether. Ai weiweis circle of animalszodiac heads was unveiled to applause and cheers outside toronto city hall yesterday. The life cycle work that now has ais attention looks like an enormous inflatable raft crammed with towering human figures bearing animal heads of the chinese zodiac, all crafted entirely. Ai wei wei as wonderful dissident, terrible artist the. Created in 2010, the zodiac heads a rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog. Circle of animalszodiac heads is an artwork by chinese contemporary artist and political commentator, ai weiwei. Internationally acclaimed chinese contemporary artist ai weiwei has reinterpreted the twelve bronze animal heads representing the traditional chinese zodiac. The heads were designed around 2010 by the chinese artist ai weiwei, a frequent critic of his countrys communist party, and are replicas of the famous zodiac heads looted in the sacking of the old summer palace, or yuanmingyuan, by british and french soldiers in 1860.
Bronze launched in new york city at the historic pulitzer fountain at grand army plaza in may 2011. See available sculpture, prints and multiples, and photographs for sale and learn about the artist. He later became a member of the artist group stars, which refused to create chinese art that followed government guidelines. Ai weiweis animal heads unveiled in toronto art agenda phaidon. Ai weiwei has 58 books on goodreads with 2921 ratings. Circle of animalszodiac heads is the artists first major public sculpture project. This problem has such a long history, a human history. Ai weiweis giant animal heads at the hirshhorn fountain chinese artist ai weiwei challenges ideas of authenticity with his reproduction of qing dynasty zodiac animal heads, now on view at the. In solidarity with ai and in recognition of the global refugee crisis, the warhol temporarily displayed a gold emergency blanket near and at one point over the artists surveillance camera. Circle of animals zodiac heads is an artwork by chinese contemporary artist and political commentator, ai weiwei. The work comes in a small gold and large bronze version. History of the zodiac heads ai weiwei s iconic series of sculptures, the circle of animals zodiac heads, is a significant international project that simultaneously signals his position as chinas most pervasive artist whilst exploring themes of globalization and identity that inform his work. This gallerysized installation is comprised of twelve animal heads, each depicting a segment of the ancient chinese zodiac.
Munroe says, the critique is aimed at the west, not at china. The meaning of ai weiweis 12 zodiac heads ai weiweis latest work of art, the circle of animalszodiac heads, which was unveiled in new. Organised by the art gallery of ontario and tokyos mori art museum, the largescale artwork offers a reinterpretation of the 12 animals that represent the chinese zodiac. Ai weiwei, chinese artist and activist whose work included sculptural installations, architectural projects, photographs, and videos. A hirshhorn patron perusing our zodiac heads catalog. But as this book explains, the origins and motivation behind the piece are as compelling as the work itself. Ai weiweis circle of animalszodiac heads contemporary. Warsh is a former member of the contemporary arts council of the asia society and the contemporary arts committee of the china institute.
Headlong into history susan delson circle of animalszodiac heads. Published by the cac malaga on the occasion of the museums hosting an installation created by ai weiwei, this volume and its subject serve to again evoke this dual dichotomy between tradition and modernity, east and west. Where to see ai weiweis circle of animals zodiac heads in gold. Arrested and harassed by the chinese government, artist ai weiwei makes daring works unlike anything the world has ever seen. While ais art was lauded internationally, its frequently provocative dimension as well as his political outspokenness triggered forms of repression from chinese authorities. On tour since 2011, ai weiweis work has already visited fourteen museums and galleries all around the world. Carnegie magazine summer 2016 ai weiwei at the warhol. But, according to information that came from ai weiweis family, the beijing fake cultural development ltd. Circle of animals zodiac heads by weiwei ai et al book. With his installation circle of animals zodiac heads, ai weiwei is raising.
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