Explore three key moments of Ai, Rebel
Over 130 pieces by contemporary artist Ai Weiwei now grace the Seattle Art Museum galleries in the Ai, Rebel exhibition. Organizing a 40-year retrospective is a massive undertaking; this robust collection cannot be haphazardly thrown on the walls or placed in random corners. Luckily, the exhibition was at the helm of FOONG Ping, Foster Foundation Curator of Chinese Art, who arranged the diverse group of works with the utmost care. Here are three key moments she cultivated for the ultimate Ai, Rebel experience.
Rooted in Ai’s History
Stepping off the escalator, guests are greeted by an enormous tree constructed of gnarled wooden branches and ancient trunks. Comprised of salvaged wood of various species, the tree represents the myriad experiences that molded Ai into who he is today. Surrounded by black-and-white photographs captured early in his career, along with a touching poem by his father about human connection in the face of adversity, the space introduces us to Ai’s personal and professional identity.
Challenging ‘Made in China’ Mentality
Enveloped by dark blue walls and dimmed lighting, the mood shifts in the Real Fakes gallery. At first glance, the arrangement of blue-and-white porcelain look like relics of the past—but a closer look at the object labels reveals Ai’s replicas are displayed side-by-side with actual 18th-century examples from SAM’s collection. This double-take confronts us with the question of why we assign more value to the original versus the copy. By highlighting the extraordinary skills of Chinese artisans, Ai’s porcelain works challenge us to rethink assumptions about the quality of Chinese-made goods.
Engaging with the Present
Much of Ai Weiwei’s practice is grounded in Chinese history and antiquities. However, Ai is not only interested in the past. Ai, Rebel concludes with a black-and-gold wallpapered hallway spotlighting artworks of various mediums: marble surveillance cameras, large-scale LEGO reconstructions of two pages from the Mueller Report, and a rusted mailbox representing claims of mail-voting fraud. Ai’s reflection on the fragility of American democracy highlights his engagement with today’s political crises, which extend beyond the exhibition.
—Sara Butler, Marketing Copywriter
Photos by Alborz Kamalizad and Chloe Collyer