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