Ai Weiwei unveils ‘Arch’, a public exhibition in Stockholm, Sweden
Contemporary artist, documentary and activist from China, Ai Weiwei grew up in the far northwest of the country, where his father’s exile had left him in difficult living conditions. Weiwei became a prominent role as a key figure in Chinese cultural development, an architect behind Chinese modernism and one of the country’s most outspoken political commentators. As an activist, he has openly criticized the Chinese government’s stance on democracy and human rights.
Weiwei and Brilliant Minds Foundation recently unveiled Arcone of the artist’s most significant works, in Stockholm, Sweden. Arc is located outside the city’s National Museum and is the first in a new series of public cultural exhibitions that Brilliant Minds has committed to supporting in Stockholm over the next five years, and celebrates innovation and creativity while inspiring connection and conversation between local communities.
The Chinese artist has sounded the alarm about political and humanitarian concerns throughout his artistic career. He has also persistently questioned preconceived notions about the place of art in society and how creative voices can and should be mobilized in a collective effort to make a difference in the global arena. Arc offers a powerful and thought-provoking message that reflects the uncertainty of the times we live in and the need for brilliant brains around the world to meet the challenge of change in a time of political division, an unprecedented refugee crisis and global waves of isolationists. feeling.
Manufacturing Arc visible is crucial for the development and protection of freedom of expression. “The function of art is not about right or wrong, but rather to offer an opportunity for people to make their own judgments,” says the globally acclaimed artist.
Arc unveiled during Brilliant Mind’s annual conference in Stockholm, a unique gathering of inspiring speakers to highlight Swedish ideals abroad and encourage European founders with revolutionary ideas to make the world more sustainable, creative and inclusive. The debut of Arc by Brilliant Minds in Sweden, the leading country on the European Innovation Scoreboard, represents a significant milestone in the Scandinavian nation’s growing relevance in worldwide art and culture. Arch’s location in Stockholm, last seen in 2017 within New York’s iconic Washington Square Park monument, will continue to celebrate the power of public art as a catalyst for conversation, and urges us all to think about the contradictions of the time we live in, and the responsibility each of us has to work for a better world.
Weiwei, a refugee himself, presents a tribute to freedom with its 40-foot-high tower, created in polished stainless steel and suggests a birdcage, which uses the silhouette of corresponding human figures to denote the free flow of all human beings and demands a world without borders.
“Now more than ever, as the world spins at its fastest and most challenging, we need to broaden our minds, share our experiences and work together to create a brighter future. The aim of Brilliant Minds is to spark passionate conversations, encourage questions and seek answers. reveal Arcand our new program of public cultural exhibitions, will ensure that we continue the important conversation for change, says Brilliant Minds CEO, Annastasia Seebohm.
(Text by Vatsala Sethi, Assistant Editor-in-Chief (Art))