Ai weiwei on the greek island lesbos, 2016, where he filmed turkish refugees coming ashore for human flow. Dec 11, 2016 ai weiwei, the acclaimed chinese artist, takes us on a walk through his old stomping ground in tompkins square park. Taschens new book, meticulously edited and lavishly produced. Think of a key worker that is either close to you or someone you would like to thank in response to covid19. As one expects from phaidon, the design and presentation of the book is secondtonone, making it a. It looks like any sock puppet, with button eyes and a blobby body, but the creature is an alpaca, he says. Ai weiwei phaidon contemporary artist series karen smith, hans ulrich obrist, bernard fibicher, ai weiwei, craig garrett, michele robecchi on. He was instrumental in the founding of the overseas chinese artists foundation as well as laying the groundwork for experimental artists in the east village where he published three books about the future generation of artists. Working in sculpture, photography, film, installation, design, music, and architecture, ai engages political and cultural. We work with the worlds most influential artists, chefs, writers and thinkers to produce innovative books on art, photography, design, architecture, fashion, food and travel, and illustrated books for children. What picasso was to the 20th century, ai weiwei is to the 21st, and if our century is to be the chinese century, then its fitting that the greatest artist of the age is chinese. Ai weiwei has 36 books on goodreads with 2962 ratings. The artist contributed stepbystep instructions to the guide do it yourself. Arrested and harassed by the chinese government, artist ai weiwei makes daring works unlike anything the world has ever seen.
Not all of the commentary about him is positive, and im sure thats as he would like it. The reason why ai weiwei is the worlds most powerful artist. Ai weiwei emerged as a vital instigator in chinese cultural development, an architect of chinese modernism, and one of the nations most vocal political commentator. The reason why ai weiwei is the worlds most powerful. Ai, weiwei artists as writers libguides at ocad university. While ais art was lauded internationally, its frequently provocative dimension as well as his political outspokenness triggered forms of repression from chinese authorities. This autumn, foam will present a large solo exhibition by the chinese artist and activist ai weiwei china. Jan 01, 2011 i purchased this book after watching ai weiwei s aww 2012 documentary never sorry twice on netflix. Ai weiwei encapsulates political conviction and his personal poetry in his many sculptures, photographs and public works. Stroll in the park with ai weiwei the new york times. Inspirational ai weiweis life and influence presented in.
A richly illustrated exploration of ai weiweis installation and architecture projects, focusing on the artists use of space. Ai weiweis work is consistently innovative and unmistakably original, ranging from his sculptures and photograp. We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. Ai weiwei karen smith, hans ulrich obrist, bernard. Ai weiwei s work is an audacious blend of old and new, western and eastern, serious and irreverent. Ai weiwei is one of the most wellknown, influential, and prolific artists active in china today. It looks like any sock puppet, with button eyes and a blobby. Jun 05, 2011 a collection of ai weiwei s blog entries proves hes much more than a playful dilettante of chinese art jonathan fenby sun 5 jun 2011 01. Brick by brick inspired by ai weiwei design museum. If these possibilities didnt exist, i wouldnt feel the need to be an artist. The first comprehensive monograph on the life and work of activist and dissident chinese artist ai weiwei, this luxurious, silkwrapped tome takes. Which ai weiwei art is featured in the chinese art book.
His sweet sock puppet with wide eyes and no mouth is a symbol of. Im an admirer of aww and his views on art, politics, and freedom of expression. Eighteen years ago, phaidon published the art book. Four exhibitions of his work are currently in new york. This book is the first comprehensive monograph on this key figure in chinas burgeoning art scene. A cultural figure of international renown, ai weiwei is an activist, architect, curator, filmmaker, and chinas most famous artist. Sep 14, 2015 the do it yourself book redefines diy for the ikea generation, according to the publishers. If, as in ai weiweis words, creativity is the power to act, one should never underestimate the courage that underscores action. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. Marlow, tim, tancock, john, rosbottom, daniel, locke.
The work is made from straightened steel reinforcing bars, salvaged from the ruins of the 2008 sichuan earthquake. Excerpted from phaidons the 21st century art book these works by toptier. The single dumbass, premiered last month along with its music video, is included in the album. Map by phaidon editors, 9780714869445, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Ai weiwei, anish kapoor, wolfgang tillmans and phaidon. The best books for art lovers around the world culture trip. Sep 10, 2015 the chinese artist and political dissident ai weiwei has designed a sock puppet. A truly 21stcentury multidisciplinary creative mastermind with an outsize public persona and outspoken world views, weiwei has never quite fitted into either his communist motherland, china, nor the land of freedom where he was educated, the united. Ai weiwei is one of the best known artists working today. Book description phaidon verlag gmbh mrz 2009, 2009. Ai weiwei melds art and activism in shows about displacement the artist ai weiwei in tompkins square park in the east village. Features the work of over 200 artists, from the famous such as ai weiwei and. Ai weiweis laundromat addresses the refugee crisis.
He has translated the readymade into a new artistic language, fusing neolithic pottery, fourteenthcentury doors and seventeenthcentury temple beams into surprising, at times shocking sculptures. Freedom is not an absolute condition, but a result of resistance, he says in. Dezeen has teamed up with publishers phaidon to offer five readers the chance to win one of five copies of do it yourself, a book containing instructions for 50 diy projects written. In 2011, ai weiwei was arrested at beijing capital international airport on 3 april, for economic crimes. Arranged alphabetically by architect, the book features more than 1,500 illustrations of approximately 350 buildings and projects from the past five years, including recently built work as well as competition entries, theoretical projects, and. Open in his criticism of the chinese government, ai was famously detained for months in 2011, then released to house arrest. Learn more about ai weiwei through our contemporary artist series book share. See more ideas about ai weiwei, installation art and sculpture art.
A continuation of his ongoing engagement with the global refugee crisis. Artist, designer, architect, author, publisher, and curator. Ai weiwei began his training at beijing film academy and later continued at the parsons school of design in new york city. Ai weiweis little blue book on the refugee crisis the. Make an ai weiwei sock puppet art and design the guardian. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Ai weiweis animal heads unveiled in toronto design. In 2006, even though he could barely type, chinas most famous artist started blogging. Translated by philip tinari, from the grey book, november, 1997. However, while this book or rather an extended set of transcribed interviews with hans ulrich obrist huo had a few moments where aww had the. The book is a fine addition to our design list, which includes authoritative overviews such as phaidon design classics, as well as definitive monographs on ettore sottsass, dieter rams and james irvine.
As a political refugee who lived under constant government surveillance, the artist feels related to the growing influx of refugees attempting from foam fotografiemuseum amsterdam, ai weiwei, stills from weiweicam now offline. Inspirational ai weiweis life and influence presented in never sorry. Upon his release, he was prohibited from traveling abroad, engaging in public speech, and was subjected to continued government surveillance. I didnt expect a publication that has been touted as one of the best art books of 2012 to stand just six inches tall and contain only two photographs. The first comprehensive monograph on the life and work of activist and dissident chinese artist ai weiwei, this luxurious, silkwrapped tome takes the cake for summers most sumptuous gift book. However, as it is a collation of interviews done over the course of several years, much content is repeated from interview to interview. Ai enjoyed a form of immunity since his father was a revolutionary poet who stood beside mao. Upon his release, he was prohibited from traveling abroad, engaging. Ai weiweis work is an audacious blend of old and new, western and eastern, serious and irreverent. Ai weiwei phaidon contemporary artist series karen smith, hans ulrich. The incredible story behind ai weiweis pushchair phaidon. Once part of an elaborate water garden that was left in ruins after the opium wars, the site on the.
The chinese artist and political dissident ai weiwei has designed a sock puppet. An outspoken human rights activist, ai was arrested by chinese authorities in april 2011 and held incommunicado for three months. Ai weiwei speaks is an interesting look into ai weiweis life, influences and projects. Ai weiweis laundromat addresses the refugee crisis hypebeast.
Turn nothing into something make a drawing, make a mark. Dec 21, 2016 here is an indepth look at ai weiweis laundromat project on display in new york. His recent sculptures include symbols of uprootedness and displacement. Ai weiwei karen smith, hans ulrich obrist, bernard fibicher. Oct 21, 2016 ai weiwei melds art and activism in shows about displacement the artist ai weiwei in tompkins square park in the east village. Beijing, june 22, 20 the ai weiwei studio released ai weiweis first music album, the divine comedy, today to commemorate the second anniversary of his release from an 81day secret detention. In his sculptures he refashions artefacts and antiques into surprising, sometimes monumental constructions such as template 2007. Authors ai weiwei ai weiwei is one of todays most important and controversial artists. Manifestos and immodest proposals from chinas most famous artist and activist, culled from his popular blog, shut down by chinese authorities in 2009. In recent years, he has produced an astonishingly varied body of work while continuing his role as activist, provocateur, and conscience of a nation. Here is an indepth look at ai weiweis laundromat project on display in new york. Ai weiwei, anish kapoor, wolfgang tillmans and phaidon artists create es covers to celebrate londons resilience. A portrait, by tina barney and stephen shore phaidon. This slim, pocketsized volume compiles quotes made by ai in interviews, in newspaper articles, on his blog, and via twitter.
Chinese artist ai weiwei has created a cuddlier version of this message of defiance for a new book of design projects by artists. One of 2012 sundance film festivals official selections, this documentary piece by alison klayman. About phaidon phaidon is the premier global publisher of the creative arts with over 1,500 titles in print. Sep 25, 2015 chinese artist ai weiwei has created a cuddlier version of this message of defiance for a new book of design projects by artists.
Ai wei wei as wonderful dissident, terrible artist the. Ai weiwei melds art and activism in shows about displacement. His recent exhibitions include sunflower seeds at the tate modern, london, a vast assemblage of handcrafted porcelain sunflower seeds. This book is so interesting that once you starting reading, it is hard to put it down. See available sculpture, prints and multiples, and photographs for sale and learn about the artist. Directions detailing how to replicate objects including an ai weiwei sockpuppet and a patricia. Phaidon is headquartered in london and new york city. Weiweiisms by ai, weiwei and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Outspoken, provocative, and prolific, the artist ai weiwei is an international phenomenon. At a whopping 1,2000 pages, this work of art in its own right, designed by. Aside from the obvious inclusions of grayson perry and ai weiwei, youll be.
Neuware the first comprehensive monograph on this key figure in chinas burgeoning art scene often working with ancient materials beams from destroyed temples, han dynasty urns ai weiwei b. Yet do it yourself also captures a design movement taking place outside the show room. Ai weiwei is super active in the world of contemporary art, posting to his instagram, posing as a drowned syrian refugee, decorating berlins konzerthaus with 14,000 life jackets. A truly 21stcentury multidisciplinary creative mastermind with an outsize public persona and outspoken world views, weiwei has never quite fitted into either his communist motherland, china, nor the land of freedom where he was educated, the united states. Another great book for you to win from our friends over at phaidon the chinese art book gives you a great overview of chinese art. For more than three years, ai weiwei turned out a steady stream of scathing social commentary, criticism of government policy, thoughts on art. Working in sculpture, photography, film, installation, design, music, and architecture, ai engages political and cultural criticism to investigate instances of government corruption and coverups, confronting chinas stance on democracy and human rights. Ai weiweis monumental work straight is the heaviest sculpture ever shown at the royal academy. The documentary goes onto chronologically reconstruct the events that occurred from the time he was arrested at the beijing airport in april 2011 to his. An accessible and richly illustrated exploration of how art and design have driven major social and political change in the 21st century. The design museum and peston would like to task you to reinterpret one of ai weiweis most famous pieces trace, and create portraits of key workers or loved ones using lego or anything else that you can find at home step 1. Ai weiwei, the acclaimed chinese artist, takes us on a walk through his old stomping ground in tompkins square park. Chairman mao was the first in the world to use twitter, says ai. Ai weiwei, chinese artist and activist whose work included sculptural installations, architectural projects, photographs, and videos.
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