Ai Weiwei is a Chinese contemporary artist most known for critiquing the Chinese government, calling them to take accountability for violating human rights. His works are so powerful that the editors of ArtReview magazine even named him as the “most powerful artist” in 2011. His works are particularly provocative, but I want to highlight one of his most famous pieces: Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn (1995).
This piece captures a picture of Ai holding a 2000-year-old ceremonial urn, as the following images reveal that he drops it and allows it to smash at the floor. The artifact in particular has symbolic and cultural value, as the Han dynasty is considered a defining period of Chinese civilization. Many people were outraged by this work, calling into question if destruction, even destruction of an artifact that Ai purchased and owned, is art. People regarded him as throwing away an entire inheritance of cultural meaning about China. At the same time, his work also questions who holds the power in assigning value and meaning to an object, especially since it is just a vase. Also, Ai could also be considered as continuing the legacy and revitalizing the past by transforming the urn into another type of art. People are reminded of the past and are immersed in nostalgia through this piece. As a result, destruction could be a means of preservation.
Moreover, I find this art to also be subversively criticizing the Chinese government. Why are people so enraged by this one person destroying one item that he bought and owned? Is it because people have a “duty” to preserve historical and ancient objects? Why don’t people hold the same attitude when their government destroys the same cultural heritage but at larger scales (landscapes/environment, buildings, artifacts, etc)? The outrage and dissent from people reveal how we often hold individuals at higher standard than the government. The provocative nature of his pieces directly confronts and questions his audience and the government.
What do you think about Ai Weiwei and his works?
1 Comment
Stephanie Bi · April 17, 2022 at 12:21 am
I definitely agree with your stance that Ai Weiwei is criticizing the Chinese government. Through his smashing of this object in particular, he protests against Chinese history and where the country stands today. On a related note, for my artist presentation, I studied Cao Fei, and her works also subtly criticize the Chinese government. Along similar lines, she creates pieces that question the rapid economic development and corporate expansion of China in recent years and brings to light the tragic work culture of the poor and factory workers.
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