BYE BYE WEIWEI

The first time I saw Ai Weiwei's work I was in Japan, at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo.

I was quite fascinated by his work, because at a first sight it was a blend of pop culture, foolishness, expensive ideas alternated with very poor art. 

Among all these qualities, then, his art is even so deeply involved with politics and culture (both Chinese) that it sounds really amazing. It is almost the same logic of the Circus: the artist makes a titanic effort, but still keeps the smile. He has to, even if he represents something tragically sad, even if there is nothing to laugh at.

In some way, there is something of the clown in Ai Weiwei. His funny face hides a strong character and very clear ideas. Always taking care of the Chinese culture, (trying to preserve its value even through the materia distruction) he forces the visitors to think about the problems (in particular: of China). 

(Han-dinasty urn "damaged" by an advert)

His art is 50% physical, 50% psychological, all to be discovered like a book, page after page. You first see the colors, the materials, than the shapes, arriving to the meaning and to the core of the idea little by little.

(a screenshot of his web site, section: CONCEPTS)

His political need of transparency and of freedom is usually against the Chinese government and for this reason he was arrested one year ago (April 2011) and remained prisoner for 81 days. 

<< Despite being based in a country that is experiencing one of the most rapid periods of economic and social changes ever seen, Ai Weiwei manages in his works to link the past with the present and the individual with the world >> 

This description was taken by the Mori Art Museum website about his past exhibit, the one I saw, but it's quite limitative. Weiwei is more than this and during the last year he has experienced prison, bail, but has continued to fight. And to denounce abuses. On the internet you'll find hundreds of articles telling his story.

After the release and a heavy fine, he has been watched for 24 hours a day by the Police.

From this exhausting experience, he thought he wanted more openness even from the government. He was so controlled that he pretended to have the same level of accountability even by the politics. For this reason he installed 4 cameras in his house, to watch him all the day. It is an invitation to do the same for those who are hiding what's happening in China. 

The cameras were visible on the page http://weiweicam.com but after less than a week, they were shut down. Even the website of the author seems not to work properly. In particular, the links to the texts, links and discussion are not visible.

(above: the quite ominous notice about being...in the wrong place...)

Weiwei is appreciated all around the world, in particular for this mission he's bringing on for a better China. 

I suppose these are not easy moments for him. But he has always shown a strong character and, as the little fly on his website main page seems to promise, he will insist again, on expressing himself. Annoying (for someone) like a fly, intense as the best clowns (for others). 

Bye Bye Weiwei, see you next time...

Italian article about this here.

English article here.

An Art Gallery here.

(this selection is based only on a quick research. If you want to be more informed, go on with that!)