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Ai Weiwei's RA show to house weighty remnants from Sichuan earthquake Ai Weiwei's RA show to house weighty remnants from Sichuan earthquake
(about 7 hours later)
About 90 tonnes of steel reinforcing bars, which were mangled and twisted in the Sichuan earthquake of 2008, are to be a key installation at a UK retrospective of the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.About 90 tonnes of steel reinforcing bars, which were mangled and twisted in the Sichuan earthquake of 2008, are to be a key installation at a UK retrospective of the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.
The rods have all been painstakingly straightened by hand and shipped from China in advance of the Royal Academy of Arts show in London September.The rods have all been painstakingly straightened by hand and shipped from China in advance of the Royal Academy of Arts show in London September.
“It is I think the heaviest work we’ve ever put in our galleries here,” said co-curator Adrian Locke. “Aside from the technical challenge, it is a very sombre and sobering work when you see it, it has this kind of power and silence about it ... it bears a real sense of loss of life.” “It is I think the heaviest work we’ve ever put in our galleries here,” said co-curator Adrian Locke. “Aside from the technical challenge, it is a very sombre and sobering work when you see it, it has this kind of power and silence about it … it bears a real sense of loss of life.”
The RA on Monday released the first details of what it said would be a landmark show for a dissident artist often best known for his treatment at the hands of the Chinese authorities.The RA on Monday released the first details of what it said would be a landmark show for a dissident artist often best known for his treatment at the hands of the Chinese authorities.
Ai, who has spoken out against human rights abuses and of the need for reform in China, was arrested in 2011 and held for 81 days. His passport is still confiscated meaning he cannot leave – a situation unlikely to change for the UK show, saidRA artistic director, Tim Marlow, who is co-curator.Ai, who has spoken out against human rights abuses and of the need for reform in China, was arrested in 2011 and held for 81 days. His passport is still confiscated meaning he cannot leave – a situation unlikely to change for the UK show, saidRA artistic director, Tim Marlow, who is co-curator.
“We think he is one of the most important artists in the world and the fact that he’s never had a major institutional show in Britain is important. The main point of doing this show is to let the British public and beyond see his work and make judgements for themselves.” “We think he is one of the most important artists in the world and the fact that he’s never had a major institutional show in Britain is important. The main point of doing this show is to let the British public and beyond see his work and make judgments for themselves.”
The 90 tonnes of metal will be laid out like a dense carpet in the RA’s biggest gallery space. It is an important work which, on one level, can be seen as a comment on the substandard building methods used for regional government building projects. The 90 tons of metal will be laid out like a dense carpet in the RA’s biggest gallery space. It is an important work which, on one level, can be seen as a comment on the substandard building methods used for regional government building projects.
But it also has a personal resonance for Ai, said Marlow, in that when the artist returned to his studio after his detention there were assistants at work straightening the rods. But it also has a personal resonance for Ai, said Marlow, in that, when the artist returned to his studio after his detention, there were assistants at work straightening the rods.
“The first thing he heard was a kind of bang, bang, bang of the team working on the rebar.”“The first thing he heard was a kind of bang, bang, bang of the team working on the rebar.”
Ai collected about 200 tonnes of the mangled rods after the earthquake and the RA, after consulting with a structural engineer and its in-house architect, has decided that the first floor of its historic Burlington House home can take around 90 tonnes. Ai collected about 200 tons of the mangled rods after the earthquake, and the RA, after consulting with a structural engineer and its in-house architect, has decided that the first floor of its historic Burlington House home can take around 90 tonnes.
It is still a significant amount, in weight terms equivalent to about 12 of the old Routemaster doubledecker buses, and bears comparison with the 100m ceramic sunflower seeds Ai filled Tate Modern’s Turbine hall with in 2010.It is still a significant amount, in weight terms equivalent to about 12 of the old Routemaster doubledecker buses, and bears comparison with the 100m ceramic sunflower seeds Ai filled Tate Modern’s Turbine hall with in 2010.
The RA said the rods were already in the UK, although would not say how much it cost to ship them, and is confident they will get in all right. “We can’t really take any risks,” said Locke. “Obviously if it goes through the floor it will be a disaster.”The RA said the rods were already in the UK, although would not say how much it cost to ship them, and is confident they will get in all right. “We can’t really take any risks,” said Locke. “Obviously if it goes through the floor it will be a disaster.”
Marlow and Locke have made two visits each to Beijing to talk with Ai and plan the exhibition.Marlow and Locke have made two visits each to Beijing to talk with Ai and plan the exhibition.
Marlow recalled seeing the surveillance cameras outside the artist’s studio compound and feeling “glamorously clandestine”. That lasted five minutes when a friend texted him because Ai had immediately instagrammed his visit.Marlow recalled seeing the surveillance cameras outside the artist’s studio compound and feeling “glamorously clandestine”. That lasted five minutes when a friend texted him because Ai had immediately instagrammed his visit.
Ai’s love of Twitter and Instagram means there will be unlimited social media interaction at the show – selfies are fine, although Marlow said he hoped people would concentrate more on the works.Ai’s love of Twitter and Instagram means there will be unlimited social media interaction at the show – selfies are fine, although Marlow said he hoped people would concentrate more on the works.
Although the RA does not expect Ai at the London show there are signs that Beijing’s stance may be softening, with the artist last month allowed to open his first solo exhibition in China since 2011.Although the RA does not expect Ai at the London show there are signs that Beijing’s stance may be softening, with the artist last month allowed to open his first solo exhibition in China since 2011.
There has been no contact with the Chinese authorities, said Marlow. “I think the authorities are totally aware of what’s going on. We’re aware, they’re aware. Ai Weiwei is probably aware that they’re aware that we’re aware that they’re aware.”There has been no contact with the Chinese authorities, said Marlow. “I think the authorities are totally aware of what’s going on. We’re aware, they’re aware. Ai Weiwei is probably aware that they’re aware that we’re aware that they’re aware.”
Ai was made an honorary Royal Academician during his detention and the RA show follows major exhibitions it has staged for the artists Anish Kapoor, David Hockney and Anselm Kiefer.Ai was made an honorary Royal Academician during his detention and the RA show follows major exhibitions it has staged for the artists Anish Kapoor, David Hockney and Anselm Kiefer.
The show will feature work Ai has been making since 1993, the year he returned to China after 12 years in the US.The show will feature work Ai has been making since 1993, the year he returned to China after 12 years in the US.
The works to go on display include :The works to go on display include :
• Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn, 1995. Ai was photographed deliberately dropping the 2,000-year-old pot, a reference to the wilful destruction of China’s historic buildings and objects during Mao’s Cultural Revolution.• Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn, 1995. Ai was photographed deliberately dropping the 2,000-year-old pot, a reference to the wilful destruction of China’s historic buildings and objects during Mao’s Cultural Revolution.
• Surveillance Camera, 2010. More than 20 cameras are trained on his studio compound in Caochangdi. By making a marble version of one, Ai is referencing Ming dynasty tomb offerings when everyday objects were made in precious materials.• Surveillance Camera, 2010. More than 20 cameras are trained on his studio compound in Caochangdi. By making a marble version of one, Ai is referencing Ming dynasty tomb offerings when everyday objects were made in precious materials.
• IOU Wallpaper, 2011-13. After Ai’s detention in 2011 he was accused of tax evasion and fined more than £1m. Thousands of individuals offered cash support and Ai wrote a promissory note for each donation. They will be shown at the RA as wallpaper.• IOU Wallpaper, 2011-13. After Ai’s detention in 2011 he was accused of tax evasion and fined more than £1m. Thousands of individuals offered cash support and Ai wrote a promissory note for each donation. They will be shown at the RA as wallpaper.
Marlow has interviewed Ai at length for the show and been deeply impressed.Marlow has interviewed Ai at length for the show and been deeply impressed.
“He is incredibly smart, there is a generosity of spirit on occasion that I find incredibly touching and an inner toughness and resilience. He doesn’t suffer fools gladly and you up your game when you deal with him.“He is incredibly smart, there is a generosity of spirit on occasion that I find incredibly touching and an inner toughness and resilience. He doesn’t suffer fools gladly and you up your game when you deal with him.
“I do sense an inner sadness, I don’t think he wants to be in the position he is in – he feels an estrangement from certain aspects of his roots, certain parts of the international art world. He knows the only way forward is to make the work he has to make.”“I do sense an inner sadness, I don’t think he wants to be in the position he is in – he feels an estrangement from certain aspects of his roots, certain parts of the international art world. He knows the only way forward is to make the work he has to make.”
• Ai Weiwei is at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 19 September to 13 December.• Ai Weiwei is at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 19 September to 13 December.