Ai Weiwei

“According to What?”

20 year retrospective of Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei’s work. Features tons of sculpture, video, early NYC photography as well as challenging works from the 2008 sichuan earthquake. Rebar and backpacks highlight an intense set of works that challenge the Chinese bureaucracy for it’s lack of transparency and obligation to shoddy workmanship. Thousands of children died, no one held accountable. Show of the year. Check it out.

aiweiwei.com

brooklynmuseum.org

Ai Weiwei

“According to What?”

Brooklyn Museum

His most recent installation is an excruciatingly detailed depiction of the period he was held in solitary detention. Inside 6 Minimalistic metal cubes that are dioramas. When you peer inside the portals of the cubes you get to see into his condition as a prisoner for 3 months. He was “shadowed” by 2 guards at all times who watched him eat, shower and shit. Intense and complicated document on his life challenging the Chinese regime. Check it out—straight from the 55th Venice Biennale and the Hirshorn Mueseum in DC.

brooklynmuseum.org

aiweiwei.com

Swoon

“Submerged Motherlands”

Brooklyn Museum

A beautiful room-filling installation of Swoon’s work, based on Hurricane Sandy. It features an awe inspiring rag tree that rises 72 feet to the Atrium’s ceiling as well as 2 “boats” that were handcrafted and sailed during the Venice Biennial. I love complete take-overs of rooms in museums. This might be one of the best.

brooklynmuseum.org

swooninprint.com