Ai Weiwei

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei creates controversial works of art as statements on human rights issues.  His approach is straightfoward and confrontational.  Take a look at some of his works in the past two decades:

Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn, 1994.

Conversation Questions:

What is happening?  What action is being performed?

What significance is there to the antiquity of the Urn?

What is the significance is breaking it?

What does the artist want us to consider?

Is his message effective?

Forever (Bicylces), 2003

Discussion Questions:

What is going on here?

Why would the artist choose bicycles as a building block?

Are bicycles significant in Chinese culture?

What might the artist be saying with this work?

Is it successful?

 

Sunflower Seeds, 2010

Discussion Questions:

What do you see in the first image?

What do you see in the second image?  Was the first image what you thought it was?

Why sunflower seeds?

(Introduce background)

Does your perception change when you know the history of the artwork?

How important is the background for this artist's work?

What is his message?

Is the piece successful?

Part one of an interview of Ai Weiwei, provides a great overview of some of his other works and gives the first hand perspective of the artist and the controversy that surrounds him.  Links for Parts 2 and 3 below:



Ai Weiwei Interview Part 2

Ai Weiwei Interview Part 3

Marcel Duchamp Handout!

Marcel Duchamp

-Marcel Duchamp's artwork is largely considered to be Dada.  What do you think the style Dada is about?  (Hint: Think of the possible meaning of the word Dada)

-Duchamp was famous for his innovative Readymade artworks, which were simply objects he found and presented as works of art.  The most famous example is...

Fountain, 1917

 

What is it?

Do you think it is art?  Why or why not?

Look at another one of Duchamp's artworks...does it look familiar?

 

What painting is Duchamp making fun of here?

What do you think Duchamp was trying to do by putting his graffiti on this famous painting?

Do you think this is art?  Why or why not?

Here is another one of Duchamp's readymades called Bicycle Wheel:

 
What do you see in this image?

How does the way the two objects are arranged change their purpose/usefulness?

What is Duchamp asking us to consider by putting objects such as these on display and calling them art? 

Do you agree or disagree with his position?  Why?

Duchamp was also a painter.  Here is his most famous painting, Nude Descending a Staircase No. 2:

What is different about this type of work from Duchamp's readymades?

Which do you prefer?  Why?

What sort of choices is Duchamp making in this composition?  (Rhythm, shape, movement, balance, etc.)

Do you think this is art?  Why or why not?