Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei, is an artist that is living and

leading revolution through social
media.

Who is Ai Weiwei?
Ai Weiwei (born 1957) is
an artist and human
rights activist from
Beijing, China.
His works focus on social
issues which critique the
Communist Chinese
government.
Ai Weiwei's work has led
to his arrest by the
government.
This controversy has only
fueled the popularity of
his work.

Ai Weiwei is primarily a Conceptual

Artist

Conceptual Art:
art in which the idea presented
by the artist is considered more
important than the finished
product, if there is one.
http
://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/is-ai-wei
wei-chinas-most-dangerous-man-17989316/?

What is a symbol in art?

An object, an action, or a pattern of objects
and actions that represents something
What is being represented?
Abstract ideas or characteristics
For example: evil, progress, courage
An item such as a color or a line can also
be a symbol
Information from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/36433/art-philosophy-of/36270/Symbols-in-art
Accessed: 9/9/14

Conventional Symbols
An adopted symbol
Not recognized by all
people or nations
Example:
In Christianity the cross is
a conventional symbol for
suffering
Peter Paul Rubens,
Information from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/36433/art-philosophy-of/36270/Symbols-in-art
Crucifixion, 1620
Accessed: 9/9/14

Natural Symbols
Some symbols are
natural, people of all
cultures can recognize
them
The relationship between
the object and what is
represents is obvious to
most people
Example: A River is a symbol
of change and flowing
Information from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/36433/art-philosophy-of/36270/Symbols-in-art
Accessed: 9/9/14

Symbols can be both conventional

and natural
Example: Bald Eagle
as an American
Symbol
Natural: Eagle is strong
Conventional: Eagle
was officially chosen
as a symbol for the
United States
Information from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/36433/art-philosophy-of/36270/Symbols-in-art
Accessed: 9/9/14

photographs, "Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn."(1995)

He drops the priceless Chinese antiques,
demonstrating the theme of destruction and
recreation that is common in his artwork.

Information from:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/28/world/asia/28weiwei.html?

after his involvement designing the "Bird's

Nest" Stadium for the 2008 Beijing
Olympics, which he later regretted. He
spoke out against the Olympics, saying they
were a government controlled "empty
event."

Information from:http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-

children's backpacks covering the Haus der Kunst

in Munich, Germany.

In May 2008 an earthquake devastated Sichuan

province in China. Several schools collapsed, and
several thousand children died. Allegations rose
that the buildings collapsed because they had been
poorly built as a result of official corruption.

He says, "These people are still constantly

asking questing and nobody will ever
answer them because the government is
trying to hide the true problems of the
collapse of the school buildings.

The text read: "'She lived happily for seven

years in this world" - the words of a mother
whose daughter died in the quake.
Information from: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-