Ai Wei Wei

Sculpture project-Natural forms in conversation

This work consists of 12 objects cast from natural forms (2 sizes of lotus seed heads and a small nautilus shell). Originally conceived as a work based on Ai Wei Wei’s Circle of Friends/Zodiac Heads (showing the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac calendar), it evolved into a conversation between 3 sets of natural forms once the similarity of a lotus seed head to a hearing trumpet was noticed. The large lotus seed heads are exuberant and loud, the medium sized seed heads are chattering softly, and the downcast nautilus shells are silent. Together the objects form a conversation.

These objects (natural forms and bases) are made from plaster. The lotus seed heads and nautilus shells are cast from silicon molds, made from the original objects. The objects have been painted with a sepia acrylic and varnished with a wood varnish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ai Wei Wei speaks…..

I have just finished an inspirational book on Ai Wei Wei, based on discussions and interviews over 10 years with Hans Ulrich Obrist. It is called ‘Ai Wei Wei speaks with Hans Ulrich Obrist’. Ai Wei Wei was an early blogger in Chinese art circles, with many thousands of people reading his posts each day.

One point that resonated with me was Ai Wei Wei’s comment about what it is to be an artist. When he started as an artist in New York he did many odd jobs to survive, and didn’t actually produce much art. However he always knew he was an artist, and that being an artist is ” more about a lifestyle and attitude than producing some product…..more like an attitude, a way of looking at things”.

This is a fundamental point and a key reminder to me as I pursue my art practice.