Chinese-born artist and activist Ai Weiwei’s remarkable body of work is coming to the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León in Spain this November, promising to offer a captivating and immersive experience. Entitled Ai Weiwei: Don Quixote, the exhibition is set to showcase 41 of Weiwei’s exceptional creations, spanning from his unique LEGO brick paintings to his thought-provoking films and awe-inspiring sculptures. This extensive collection will occupy a vast 1,700 square metres of presentation space, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in Weiwei’s artistic world.
It’s worth noting that this exhibition has been meticulously curated in collaboration with Weiwei himself, alongside the museum’s director, Álvaro Rodruíguez Fominaya, ensuring a truly one-of-a-kind and carefully crafted presentation of Weiwei’s artistic vision. Renowned for his ability to seamlessly blend art with political activism, Ai Weiwei’s work goes beyond conventional boundaries, offering visitors a profound and multi-faceted exploration of his creative mind and his unwavering dedication to social change.
For the first time in this quantity, Weiwei’s series of paintings made entirely from LEGO bricks will be exhibited. He is well-known for using LEGO bricks in his work, starting in 2014 when he was under house arrest in China and then gaining attention for reconstructing Claude Monet’s ‘Water Lilies’ using 650,000 LEGO studs in 22 different colours. Speaking on the paintings, Weiwei says, “LEGO, like ancient mosaics, textile and carpet designs, or wooden movable-type printing of the Song Dynasty (ca. 1000 AD), embodies a sense of timelessness.”
La Commedia Umana (2017–2021) – one of Weiwei’s most celebrated and renowned works – will also be on display in the Spanish museum. The sculpture, a chandelier constructed with 2,000 pieces of blown and cast black Murano glass, stands tall at just over eight metres and took Weiwei four years to complete. Representing the cycle of life and death, the art piece is composed of glass skeletons, bones, and organs, all dangling and entangled with each other.
As part of the exhibition, visitors can also expect to encounter a diverse range of artistic creations, such as sculptural installations, compelling films, and evocative paintings. One highlight is Life Cycle, a poignant sculpture created in 2008 which features a bamboo-constructed boat filled with figures, serving as a powerful response to the refugee crisis.
Through captivating pieces like Life Cycle, Weiwei demonstrates his boundless creativity by offering poignant reflections on the world around him, delving into topics ranging from international politics to the far-reaching impacts of artificial intelligence. With each creation, Weiwei expertly intertwines elements of his Chinese heritage and personal experiences. His remarkable work has garnered global attention, gracing prestigious venues including the Design Museum and Tate Modern in London, the Brooklyn Museum in New York, and the Albertina Modern in Vienna. Weiwei’s artistry encompasses a wide spectrum, seamlessly blending sculptural installation, painting, ceramics, filmmaking, writing, and an impactful social media presence, leaving audiences worldwide awestruck and inspired.
‘Ai Weiwei: Don Quixote’ will be open from November 9th at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León in Spain. Visit www.musac.es for more information.
images. courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio
words. Amber Louise
