Ai Weiwei

by Karen Smith, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Bernard Fibicher

This Is the first comprehensive monograph on Ai Weiwei (b. 1957), a key figure in China's burgeoning art scene. Ai often works with ancient materials - beams from destroyed temples, Han Dynasty urns - to create ingenious sculptures that break new artistic ground while commenting on the rapid transformation of contemporary China. Ai's work is consistently innovative and unmistakably original, ranging from sculptures to photographs to his numerous architectural commissions, and it recalls the work of his artistic forebears: Marcel Duchamp, Joseph Beuys, and Andy Warhol. Ai is a towering figure whose influence can be seen in the multiplicity of his roles: not just an artist, designer, and architect, but also curator, publisher, blogger, and cultural compass for an entire generation of Beijing artists.

Genres: Art, China, Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2008

Reviews

[CM · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard not to like this one after so many cringe-inducing art books. Fascinating personalities in conversation (The larger-than-life Ai himself and THE curator of contemporary art, Mr Obrist), large photographs that actually go well with the text, an accessible introduction of the artist and his artworks, completed with a sophisticated essay on one particular artwork and some selected writings of the artist.

Ai is generally known as 艾神 (God Ai) in the Chinese art scene and reading this book should (slightly) help a reader to understand how Ai got this divine title. With the wit and art of Ai being praised every one or two paragraphs (during the introduction part), those with a more critical mindset may want to look elsewhere.

[Barbara McEwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to learn more about Ai Weiwei and why he creates the art he does. There are interviews with the artist as well as excerpts from his own books. The pictures are big and colourful and relate to the text.

[Cathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love his artwork but found this book about him to be "just ok."

[Mills College Library]

709.2 A2882s 2009