AI WEIWEI: A NEW CHATPTER
Lisson Gallery is proud to present a compelling exhibition of new works by the renowned artist Ai Weiwei, showcasing a provocative exploration of contemporary issues through the lens of historical and artistic reference.
February 7 - March 15, 2025
Each piece in this show articulates a dialogue between past and present, revealing the artist’s relentless inquiry into the complexities of identity, politics, and cultural heritage.
At the heart of the exhibition is F.U.C.K. (all works 2024), a striking installation that employs buttons affixed to four Second World War military stretchers to spell out the provocative word. The buttons, sourced from the now-closed A Brown & Co Buttons factory, were collected over the years, resulting in an astounding array of more than 9,000 varieties. This piece not only signifies the culmination of Ai’s extensive research into industrialization and textile history, but also represents a tangible connection to the first industrial revolution. The careful arrangement of buttons underscores themes of existence and disappearance, reflecting on how historical narratives are woven together through the fabric of material culture.
Furthering this dialogue, Ai Weiwei presents a playful yet profound reinterpretation of Paul Gauguin’s Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? (1897-98). Through the medium of toy bricks, this large-scale piece reimagines Gauguin’s philosophical inquiries while integrating contemporary elements such as drones and references to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. This work is particularly significant for Ai, who has expressed the lasting impact of Gauguin’s original piece on him since he first encountered it at the age of 20. By depicting himself as an aboriginal figure within this context, Ai engages in a critical examination of identity and representation, extending his exploration of digitalization and pixelation in modern art.
Ai Weiwei’s exhibition at Lisson Gallery invites audiences to engage with a rich tapestry of ideas and emotions, unearthing connections between personal, political, and artistic narratives. This showcase serves as an exploration of the enduring questions that define the human experience and is testament to Ai Weiwei’s profound ability to provoke thought and inspire dialogue, ensuring that his work resonates powerfully within the contemporary art landscape.