13/04/2023
Posted • Something ordinary made precious, transformed during the pandemic into an unexpectedly valuable commodity. In this glass sculpture Ai Weiwei plays with the conceptions of value in today’s contemporary society. Who could forget during the pandemic the way that toilet paper vanished from supermarket shelves? Suddenly the most basic item became a luxury, an item fought over in supermarket isles.
This sculpture was inspired by that strange period of history. Through creating such a simple object in glass Ai Weiwei wished not only to highlight the absurdity of the event, he sought to immortalise it too. In glass the sculpture takes on a new significance, its unsettling transparency becomes a cunning commentary on the opaque nature of the relentless production and consumption of the capitalistic society in which we live. It also cannot help but position itself as a symbol of the fragility of society itself.
You can see this artwork and many more as part of the exhibition “Ai Weiwei: Making Sense” at the Design Museum in London. If you’re in the city make sure to stop by.
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Ai Weiwei: Making Sense
🗓07.04.23 - 30.07.23
📍224-238 Kensington High St, London W8 6AG, United Kingdom
📸Images courtesy of Francesco Allegretto
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