Why did Ai Weiwei make the zodiac heads?
For many Chinese, the original heads symbolize the “century of humiliation” that China endured at the hands of Western and Japanese invaders starting in the late Qing dynasty. Mr. Ai’s work, called the Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads, is a commentary on historical memory.
What materials did Ai Weiwei use?
The socio-political and economic climate of contemporary China most often serves as starting point for Ai Weiwei’s art, and he uses local materials and resources like reclaimed wood from traditional Chinese houses and temples; Chinese antiquities like Neolithic vases and Qing Dynasty furniture; porcelain from the …
What do the backpacks represent in remembering by Ai Weiwei?
Each backpack represents a life lost in the earthquake in the Chinese province of Sichuan in 2008. Ai used five bright and vibrant colors, such as blue, red, yellow and green, reflecting the psyche of a child, their joy and innocence.
Why was Circle of Animals Zodiac Heads created?
Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads was inspired by the fabled fountain-clock of the Yuanming Yuan, an 18th-century imperial retreat just outside Beijing.
When was the Coca Cola vase made?
Executed in 2009, Ai Weiwei’s Coca-Cola Vase is part of an iconic series of hand-painted vases which began in 1994, shortly after the artist returned to China after twelve years in America.
What are the Chinese zodiac animals?
There are 12 Chinese zodiac signs, in the following order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each sign is named after an animal, and each animal has its own unique characteristics.
What medium does Ai Weiwei use?
Sculpture
Installation artPhotographyCeramic art
Ai Weiwei/Forms
What is Ai Weiwei style?
ExcessivismAi Weiwei / Period
What does Ai Weiwei sunflower seeds represent?
Communist propaganda optimistically depicted leader Mao Zedong as the sun and the citizens of the People’s Republic of China as sunflowers, turning toward their chairman. Ai Weiwei reasserts the sunflower seed as a symbol of camaraderie during difficult times.
What Greek name is given to the circle of animals?
This line, the ecliptic, is also known as the zodiac, a term originating from the late 14th Century, and deriving from the Greek literally translating as “circle of little animals”. (Incidentally our word for zoo derives from the same origin).