Ai Weiwei

Discuss the two images

Obama criticises coverage of sub disaster

How can ___ destruction of ___ artifact also be ___ act of preservation? Dropping __ Han Dynasty Urn (1995) by Ai Weiwei is __ highly irreverent work of art. This series of three black and white photographs portray ___ artist holding ___ 2,000-year-old Han dynasty urn that, frame by frame, he drops, it falls, and shatters. As much __ work of photography as __ work of performance art, in each still __ unaffected  Ai looks directly at __ camera aware of his destructiveness. In fact, to capture __ action on film (rather than digital photography, which lets you review ___ image immediately), __ artist actually broke two ceramic vessels, just in case. This kind of blatant destruction of artifacts may seem highly provocative, yet it also forces viewers to consider issues of transformation and destruction of ___ past.

unaffected

irreverent

provocative

blatant

How can the destruction of an artifact also be an act of preservation? Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn (1995) by Ai Weiwei is a highly _________ work of art. This series of three black and white photographs portray the artist holding a 2,000-year-old Han dynasty urn that, frame by frame, he drops, it falls, and shatters. As much a work of photography as a work of performance art, in each still an __________  Ai looks directly at the camera aware of his destructiveness. In fact, to capture the action on film (rather than digital photography, which lets you review the image immediately), the artist actually broke two ceramic vessels, just in case. This kind of ________ destruction of artifacts may seem highly _________, yet it also forces viewers to consider issues of transformation and destruction of the past.

Ai Weiwei, Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn, 1995 (printed 2017), Three gelatin silver prints, 148 x 121 cm each (photo: © Ai Weiwei)

Discuss this artwork. Is there any connection between this image and the two images above?

Ai visits a refugee camp

Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei visits the migrants at the Idomeni camp on the border between Greece and Macedonia on Wednesday. The artist condemns the poor conditions of the thousands of migrants that are still trapped in the camp and says the situation is a ‘big violation of human rights’

Go to video:

Ai visits a camp

1. Where is Ai?
2. What is Ai's view of the situation?
3. Why does Ai say "the sky (is) getting darker?"


Discuss - could Ai be seen as exploiting the misfortune of others?



Discuss this quote from Ai

"The tragedy is not only the people who have lost their lives. The tragedy is the people who, in the very rich nations, lost their humanity,"

Watch

Interview

Q: Why is Ai particularly conscious of camps?


Works:

"The Law of the Journey"





1. What springs to mind immediately when you see this picture? What's your immediate emotional response?
2. How has the sculpture been made?
3. Why do you think the boat is so long?
4. Why do you think black material is used?
5. What does the title mean to you?



The Law of the Journey

What additional elements supplement the main work?











"Good fences make good neighbours"

Good fences make good neighbours

"14,000 life vests"

14,000 Life Vests

1. What springs to mind immediately when you see this picture? What's your immediate emotional response?
2. How has the sculpture been made?
3. What does the title mean to you?

After watching the news clip, what two extra elements are added to the work to give it more power?