Böcker av Ai Weiwei

Published for the exhibition Disposition, this slim but satisfying catalogue is composed of a series of pictures, close ups and words about the two major projects Ai Weiwei has created for Zuecca Project Space within the context of the 55th Venice Biennale.

In this beautifully illustrated and deeply philosophical graphic memoir, legendary artist Ai Weiwei explores the connection between artistic expression and intellectual freedom through the lens of the Chinese zodiac.Within this deluxe edition is an exclusive, limited-edition art print, signed by Ai Weiwei and stamped with gold foil. As a child living in exile during the Cultural Revolution, Ai Weiwei often found himself with nothing to read but government-approved comic books. Although they were restricted by the confines of political propaganda, Ai Weiwei was struck by the artists’ ability to express their thoughts on art and humanity through graphic storytelling. Now, decades later, Ai Weiwei and Italian comic artist Gianluca Costantini present Zodiac, Ai Weiwei’s first graphic memoir.Inspired by the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac and their associated human characteristics, Ai Weiwei masterfully interweaves ancient Chinese folklore with stories of his life, family, and career. The narrative shifts back and forth through the years—at once in the past, present, and future—mirroring memory and our relationship to time. As readers delve deeper into the beautifully illustrated pages of Zodiac, they will find not only a personal history of Ai Weiwei and an examination of the sociopolitical climate in which he makes his art, but a philosophical exploration of what it means to find oneself through art and freedom of expression.Contemplative and political, Zodiac will inspire readers to return again and again to Ai Weiwei’s musings on the relationship between art, time, and our shared humanity.

The “intimate and expansive” (Time) memoir of “one of the most important artists working in the world today” (Financial Times), telling a remarkable history of China over the last hundred years while also illuminating his artistic process   “Poignant . . . An illuminating through-line emerges in the many parallels Ai traces between his life and his father’s.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)   ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Time, BookPage, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews   Once a close associate of Mao Zedong and the nation’s most celebrated poet, Ai Weiwei’s father, Ai Qing, was branded a rightist during the Cultural Revolution, and he and his family were banished to a desolate place known as “Little Siberia,” where Ai Qing was sentenced to hard labor cleaning public toilets. Ai Weiwei recounts his childhood in exile, and his difficult decision to leave his family to study art in America, where he befriended Allen Ginsberg and was inspired by Andy Warhol and the artworks of Marcel Duchamp. With candor and wit, he details his return to China and his rise from artistic unknown to art world superstar and international human rights activist—and how his work has been shaped by living under a totalitarian regime. Ai Weiwei’s sculptures and installations have been viewed by millions around the globe, and his architectural achievements include helping to design the iconic Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium in Beijing. His political activism has long made him a target of the Chinese authorities, which culminated in months of secret detention without charge in 2011. Here, for the first time, Ai Weiwei explores the origins of his exceptional creativity and passionate political beliefs through his life story and that of his father, whose creativity was stifled.At once ambitious and intimate, Ai Weiwei’s 1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows offers a deep understanding of the myriad forces that have shaped modern China, and serves as a timely reminder of the urgent need to protect freedom of expression.

The quotable Ai WeiweiThis collection of quotes demonstrates the elegant simplicity of Ai Weiwei's thoughts on key aspects of his art, politics, and life. A master at communicating powerful ideas in astonishingly few words, Ai Weiwei is known for his innovative use of social media to disseminate his views. The short quotations presented here have been carefully selected from articles, tweets, and interviews given by this acclaimed Chinese artist and activist. The book is organized into six categories: freedom of expression; art and activism; government, power, and moral choices; the digital world; history, the historical moment, and the future; and personal reflections.Together, these quotes span some of the most revealing moments of Ai Weiwei's eventful career-from his risky investigation into student deaths in the 2008 Sichuan earthquake to his arbitrary arrest in 2011-providing a window into the mind of one of the world's most electrifying and courageous contemporary artists.Select Quotes from the Book:On Freedom of Expression"e;Say what you need to say plainly, and then take responsibility for it."e;"e;A small act is worth a million thoughts."e;"e;Liberty is about our rights to question everything."e;On Art and Activism"e;Everything is art. Everything is politics."e;"e;The art always wins. Anything can happen to me, but the art will stay."e;"e;Life is art. Art is life. I never separate it. I don't feel that much anger. I equally have a lot of joy."e;On Government, Power, and Making Moral Choice"e;Once you've tasted freedom, it stays in your heart and no one can take it. Then, you can be more powerful than a whole country."e;"e;I feel powerless all the time, but I regain my energy by making a very small difference that won't cost me much."e;"e;Tips on surviving the regime: Respect yourself and speak for others. Do one small thing every day to prove the existence of justice."e;On the Digital World"e;Only with the Internet can a peasant I have never met hear my voice and I can learn what's on his mind. A fairy tale has come true."e;"e;The Internet is uncontrollable. And if the Internet is uncontrollable, freedom will win. It's as simple as that."e;"e;The Internet is the best thing that could have happened to China."e;On History, the Historical Moment, and the Future"e;If a nation cannot face its past, it has no future."e;"e;We need to get out of the old language."e;"e;The world is a sphere, there is no East or West."e;Personal Reflection"e;I've never planned any part of my career-except being an artist. And I was pushed into that corner because I thought being an artist was the only way to have a little freedom."e;"e;Anyone fighting for freedom does not want to totally lose their freedom."e;"e;Expressing oneself is like a drug. I'm so addicted to it."e;