Ai Weiwei’s exhibition ‘Roots’ features a series of monumental sculptural works in iron, consisting of giant tree roots sourced from Brazil. Ai worked with local artisans and communities throughout Brazil, sourcing roots from the endangered Pequi Vinagreiro tree, some of which are over a thousand years old. The roots were moulded and cast to create striking compositions that reflect their Brazilian heritage. The works depict the state of ‘uprootedness’, which mirrors not only the artist’s peripatetic existence but also the plight of refugees and the indigenous populations that rely on the trees and forests of Brazil for their habitats and sustenance. The Roots series, made of cast iron and covered in a patina of orange rust, responds to ancient cultures and man’s first tools for tree felling and woodworking, illustrating how progress can often come at the expense of cultural and societal well-being. The exhibition also features delicate silk sculptures, referencing mythological creatures, personal symbols, and works of art. Finally, the exhibition features politically charged, pixelated renderings of the trajectory of a refugee boat refused docking, the Mueller report into Russian interference in the 2016 US Presidential election, and a deconstructed symbol of the protests of Tiananmen Square in 1989.
Posted by hateruma_yaeyama on 2019-10-02 10:41:22