circle of animals/zodiac heads, a public outdoor sculpture exhibition by chinese artist/activist, ai weiwei, recently debuted in new york and london, following a september-december 2010 appearance at the biennale in são paolo, brazil.
ai weiwei | circle of animals/zodiac heads
ai weiwei | circle of animals/zodiac heads
2 may-15 july 2011
pulitzer fountain, grand army plaza, new york, NY
12 may-30 june 2011
somerset house | london, united kingdom
photo by somerset house
the world tour of the exhibition continues at the los angeles county museum of art (lacma) from 20 august 2011-12 february 2012, followed by appearances in pittsburgh, PA, houston, TX, and washington, DC.
it seems ironic that the exhibition debuted in london, since the sculptures were inspired by the bronze heads of the twelve animals of the chinese zodiac that once surrounded the fountain in the gardens of the old summer palace (yuanmingyuan), a qing dynasty (1644-1911) imperial retreat near beijing.
the european-style gardens were designed by jesuit missionaries giuseppe castiglione and michel benoist for the qianlong emperor (r. 1736-1795), who was fascinated by western architecture, science, and engineering. unlike western cultures, the chinese measured time in twelve two-hour periods. so, the missionaries engineered the fountain, which functioned as a water clock, to pump water from the head of a different zodiac animal every two hours.
the twelve zodiac animal heads disappeared when british and french troops ransacked the old summer palace in 1860 during the second opium war.
the european-style gardens were designed by jesuit missionaries giuseppe castiglione and michel benoist for the qianlong emperor (r. 1736-1795), who was fascinated by western architecture, science, and engineering. unlike western cultures, the chinese measured time in twelve two-hour periods. so, the missionaries engineered the fountain, which functioned as a water clock, to pump water from the head of a different zodiac animal every two hours.
the twelve zodiac animal heads disappeared when british and french troops ransacked the old summer palace in 1860 during the second opium war.
since then, some of the zodiac animal heads from the fountain have reappeared on the international art market, most recently in christie's sale of the legendary collection of yves saint laurent et pierre berge in paris on 23-25 february 2009.
bronze rat head | from the zodiac fountain at the yuanmingyuan | qianlong period (r. 1736-1795)
from the collection of yves saint laurent and pierre berge
photo by les cahiers d'alain truong
bronze rabbit head | from the zodiac fountain at the yuanmingyuan | qianlong period (r. 1736-1795)
from the collection of yves saint laurent and pierre berge
photo by les cahiers d'alain truong
the sale of the bronze rat and rabbit heads from the collection of yves saint laurent and pierre berge created a controversy.
first, china's foreign ministry issued a statement that the rat and rabbit heads were national treasures that should be returned to china, and attempted to block the sale. but, christie's and pierre berge refused to withdraw the lots.
then, a chinese national, cai mingchao, bid 31.4 million euros (US$40 million) for the rat and rabbit heads, and withheld payment in protest.
so, the rat and rabbit heads from the zodiac fountain remain in the collection of pierre berge. since 2000, the tiger, monkey, ox, boar, and horse heads from the fountain have been acquired by or donated to the poly art museum in beijing. the locations of some of the other animal heads from the fountain remain unknown.
according to ai weiwei, the animal heads from the fountain were
so, the rat and rabbit heads from the zodiac fountain remain in the collection of pierre berge. since 2000, the tiger, monkey, ox, boar, and horse heads from the fountain have been acquired by or donated to the poly art museum in beijing. the locations of some of the other animal heads from the fountain remain unknown.
according to ai weiwei, the animal heads from the fountain were
'...designed by an italian, and made by a french[man]...'
'...i don't think that's [a chinese] national treasure...'
this is not surprising, since ai weiwei's work explores what is fake, real, authentic, or valuable.
he often incorporates antiquities like classical chinese furniture or chinese ceramics into his work---some of my favorite antiques to combine with modern furnishings in my projects at innerspace interior design.
but, the way that he reinterprets these classics could be considered either inspired or irreverent.
constructive?
altar table (qiaotouan) | huanghuali wood | ming-qing dynasty | 16th-17th century
grace wu bruce | hong kong
photo by grace wu bruce
ai weiwei | table with three legs | qing dynasty table (1644-1911) | 2008
ai weiwei four movements exhibition | phillips de pury | london, united kingdom | 3-28 march 2009
photo by phillips de pury
ai weiwei | crossed tables | qing dynasty tables (1644-1911) | 2000
sold for 45,600 pounds | phillips de pury | london, united kingdom | 22 june 2007
photo by phillips de pury
evolutionary?
blue and white porcelain bird feader | ming dynasty (1368-1644) | xuande mark and period (r. 1426-1435)
sold for US$50,000 | christie's | new york, NY | 17 september 2008
photo by christie's
blue and white porcelain cricket jar | ming dynasty (1368-1644) | xuande mark and period (r. 1425-1435)
suzhou museum | suzhou, china
photo by wikimedia
ai weiwei | owl house 4A | blue and white porcelain | 2010
haines gallery | san francisco, CA
photo by artnet
destructive?
painted grey earthenware cocoon jar | western han dynasty (3rd-2nd century BC)
sold for US$2500 | christie's | new york, NY | 24 march 2011
photo by christie's
ai weiwei | coca-cola vase | han dynasty vase and industrial paint | 2010
ai weiwei (copenhagen) exhibition | 18 november 2010-27 march 2011 | faurschou | copenhagen, denmark
photo by artnet
ai weiwei | colored vases | 31 han dynasty vases and industrial paint | 2010
ai weiwei exhibition | 13 may-16 july 2011 | lisson gallery | london, united kingdom
photo by lisson gallery
or, revolutionary?
ai weiwei's work is considered so controversial in china that, on 11 january 2011, chinese officials ordered the demolition of his shanghai art studio because it did not comply with building regulations.then, he was arrested on 2 april 2011 in beijing. and then, he was charged with tax evasion. now, everyone is wondering when he will be released.
release ai weiwei
sign posted on the facade of the tate modern museum | london, united kingdom
photo by randomwire
and, i'm also wondering why circle of animals/zodiac heads is appearing in pittsburgh and houston, but not in san francisco.
note:
on 22 june 2011, ai weiwei was released on bail. however, the conditions of his bail forbid the artist/activist from speaking to the media for at least a year.
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