Ai Weiwei Raiz is the name of the first exhibition by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei in Brazil, and also the largest ever held by him. Covering 8,000 m², the exhibition features 70 historical works and another 24 new ones created from his immersion in Brazil. and its traditions. Cultural producer Marcello Dantas is responsible for the project and curatorship that aims to reveal the story of one of the greatest and most prolific artists of our time.
Weiwei left his home country in 2015 and stands out on the international scene for his interest in social issues, such as the global immigration crisis, and his fierce criticism of the Chinese government. Many of his works make strong references to these issues. As a One of the largest works on display is a refugee boat adrift, which floated on Ibirapuera Lake before being installed on the top floor of the building. There you can also watch videos recorded by the artist in refugee camps across Europe.
Some of his best-known works can be seen at Oca, such as Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn, a work that shows the young artist intentionally dropping a ceremonial urn that is about 2,000 years old, from the Han Dynasty, a period of the history of Chinese civilization. The subversive and transformative action was captured and transformed into three images, which have been exhibited in exhibitions around the world. In Brazil, a version of it in Lego pieces can be seen. Many of his works tension the contemporary world and traditional Chinese modes of thought and production. The exhibition also reveals the capacity to subvert traditional art media by mixing works from a wide range of techniques, such as sculpture, media installations, photography, film, architecture, curation and social criticism.
