Ai Weiwei is a Chinese artist whose activities cover a wide range of genres, from art and architecture to design and publishing. His international reputation was cemented by a series of highly acclaimed projects over the last few years, including Fairytale, his contribution to Documenta 12 in 2007 for which he brought 1,001 Chinese people to Europe, as well as his collaboration with architects Herzog & de Meuron on the “Bird's Nest” Olympic Stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Up until now, Ai's work has been focused on the connections between art, culture, and society, and on the role of the individual within society. In recent years, he has moved away from the architectural projects that had been a major part of his practice since 1999 and adopted looser parameters that allow him to explore more freely such timeless themes as culture, history, politics and tradition.

This exhibition will show 26 works made since 1990s including six new works, making it one of the largest solo shows for the artist ever held. The subtitle, “According to What?” comes from a painting by Jasper Johns, the artist whose work was the catalyst for Ai's entry into the contemporary art world. It hints at one of the exhibition's goals: to explore the connections between Ai’s work and its artistic, cultural and historical backgrounds. The exhibits are varied, ranging from sculptures to photographs, video and site specific installations. They are organized into three sections: “Fundamental Forms and Volumes,” “Structure and Craftsmanship” and “Reforming and Inheriting Tradition.” In this way, the fundamental approach and motivations that unite Ai's myriad creative activities are brought into relief.

In the first section, “Fundamental Forms and Volumes,” the exhibits include a series of cubic and polyhedral forms reminiscent of minimal art and a new installation consisting of blocks of Chinese tea. A video showing the city of Beijing as though closed-circuit television cameras is also exhibited. In “Structure and Craftsmanship” works from the simple but astoundingly minutely carved “Maps” series, the “Furniture” series made since 1997 and an object, called Moon Chest, which straddles art, architecture and design, are exhibited. The final section, “Reforming and Inheriting Tradition,” contains a series of works based on ceramics from the Neolithic period and Han and Tang Dynasties and an installation consisting of reassembled parts from Qing Dynasty architecture. In addition, the exhibition includes a documentary video (2 hrs 30 mins) of Fairytale, the project from Documenta 12, which could be described as “social sculpture,” and a new version of Chandelier and Snake Ceiling.

Despite being based in a country that is experiencing one of the most rapid periods of economic and social change ever seen, Ai Weiwei manages in his artworks to link the past with the present and the individual with the world. We invite you to see this exhibition and share the visions of contemporary China’s most exciting creator.

* The text provided by Mori Art Museum.