Ai Weiwei is one of the most prolific and provocative artists of the modern day. Known around the world for his powerful art and activism, he does not differentiate between disciplines.
Instead, his practice moves between across art, architecture, design, film, collecting and curating, being led by meaning rather than define by medium.
A new major exhibition at London’s Design Museum, developed in collaboration with the artist, is the first to present his work as a commentary on design and what it reveals about our changing values today.
Through his engagement with material culture, Ai explores the tension between past and present, hand and machine, precious and worthless, construction and destruction.
The exhibition draws on Ai’s fascination with historical Chinese artefacts, placing their traditional craftsmanship in dialogue with the more recent history of demolition and urban development in China. The result is a meditation on value – on histories and skills that have been ignored or erased.
The exhibition is open now through to 30 July, and tickets are selling fast. Book now to make sure you grab them while you can.
