Ai Weiwei, Lisson Gallery & Somerset House

The man may be in prison but his art makes two stellar shows

by Judith FlandersThursday, 12 May 2011

Ai Weiwei: 'Circle of Animals/ Zodiac Heads'Courtesy the artist and Somerset House

It is now 37 days since Ai Weiwei was detained at Beijing international airport by the Chinese authorities. His family and friends have heard nothing since. His lawyer, to whom under Chinese law he must have access, was arrested as well, and since his own release he too has heard nothing. Officially, unless charges are brought today, the period in which he can be held without charge expires. And yet, where is Ai Weiwei? The whereabouts of Ai Weiwei the man are unknown. In London, however, Ai Weiwei the artist makes two stellar appearances.

Words can be deleted' says Ai Weiwei, 'but the truth won't be deleted with them

Explore topics

Share this article

...

Permalink Submitted by Richard (not verified) on Sat, 14/05/2011 - 08:14

Yes, where is he, or rather when will he get out? The bronze heads are playful with active poses, excellent dragon. I disagree about the Sunflower seeds - making me think about the people of China, their history of craftsmanship and also issues of mass production. Audacious, very big and very small at the same time. Didn't see the image of AWW outside the Lisson and missed the marble camera, plus the moon piece. Generally didn't find this a user friendly gallery but glad for the chance to see the rest of it all the same

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

more Visual arts

Help to give theartsdesk a future! Support our GoFundMe appeal

Electric Dreams: Art and Technology Before the Internet, Tate Modern review - an exhaustive and exhausting show Flashing lights, beeps and buzzes are diverting, but quickly pall

ARK: United States V by Laurie Anderson, Aviva Studios, Manchester review - a vessel for the thoughts and imaginings of a lifetime Despite anticipating disaster, this mesmerising voyage is full of hope

Vanessa Bell, MK Gallery review - diving into and out of abstraction A variation of styles as the Bloomsbury artist breaks free from Victorian mores

Lygia Clark: The I and the You, Sonia Boyce: An Awkward Relation, Whitechapel Gallery review - breaking boundaries Two artists, 50 years apart, invite audience participation

Mike Kelley: Ghost and Spirit, Tate Modern review - adolescent angst indefinitely extended The artist who refused to grow up

Monet and London, Courtauld Gallery review - utterly sublime smog Never has pollution looked so compellingly beautiful

Michael Craig-Martin, Royal Academy review - from clever conceptual art to digital decor A career in art that starts high and ends low

Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers, National Gallery review - passions translated into paint Turmoil made manifest

Peter Kennard: Archive of Dissent, Whitechapel Gallery review - photomontages sizzling with rage Fifty years of political protest by a master craftsman

Dominique White: Deadweight, Whitechapel Gallery review - sculptures that seem freighted with history Dunked in the sea to give them a patina of age, sculptures that feel timeless

Bill Viola (1951-2024) - a personal tribute Video art and the transcendent

Follow @theartsdesk