Chinese artist Ai Weiwei exhibiting first original works in Paris department store
POSTED 19 Jan 2016 . BY Kim Megson
The show is Ai Weiwei's first exhibition of original works in France Credit: Le Bon Marché
In a surprise move, the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is exhibiting his first original works in France at a luxury department store in Paris.
The show, named Er Xi, Air de Jeux (Child’s Play), features more than 100 bamboo and silk kites and 3D structures depicting mythological creatures from Chinese legend.
The exhibition at Le Bon Marché – which will run to 20 February 2016 and is promoting a store sale – is inspired by the artist's childhood, his previous works and the Chinese book of myths Shan Hai Jing (‘The Classic of Mountains and Seas’), which is over 2,000 years old.
Kite makers from China’s Shandong Province worked with Weiwei to create the fantastical kites, which are many shapes and sizes and represent birds, fish, dragons and a selection of other fantastical creatures.
The exhibition is divided into three areas of the store: the ten exterior storefront display cases, the atriums and the gallery, which is being patrolled by a large dragon made of woven bamboo.
“The city of Paris is like a myth to me; it is another world,” said Weiwei. “Mythology symbolises a parallel world to ours which is our imagination, our dreams, our fears, our history. It is like a mirror that reflects our society and our personality and helps us understand our world. “
“I hope the show can surprise and amaze people and make their lives a little more joyous and colourful.”
Asked to describe the challenges of creating art for a department store, Weiwei said: “This is the kind of place I love having my work presented; a place directly linked to the city and its citizens. It is not really a place of art, but it is associated with trends and lifestyle.
“Yes, it represented a real challenge for me to create works specifically for a department store, but that made it all the more interesting.”
The artist is most famous around the world for his politically-influenced works, which led to him being placed under house arrest in China and unable to travel for four years.
The exhibition runs until 20 February Credit: Le Bon Marché
A woven bamboo dragon floats in the store's main gallery Credit: Le Bon Marché
The show, named Er Xi, Air de Jeux (Child’s Play), features more than 100 bamboo and silk kites Credit: Le Bon Marché
Displays in the storefront windows re-tell stories from Chinese mythology Credit: Le Bon Marché
Delicate 3D models have also been used in the show Credit: Le Bon Marché
Kite makers from China’s Shandong Province worked with Weiwei to create the fantastical kites Credit: Ai Weiwei
The main material used is bamboo Credit: Ai Weiwei
RELATED STORIES
Ai Weiwei unveils art exhibition at Alcatraz prison POSTED 03 Oct 2014. BY Katie Buckley America’s Alcatraz - one of the world’s most notorious prisons and now a top tourist
attraction - is to play host to an art and sculpture exhibition by dissident artist Ai Weiwei.
London's Serpentine Gallery opens ESPA-sponsored Pavilion POSTED 06 Jun 2012. BY Pete Hayman The Serpentine Gallery in London, UK has opened its 2012 Pavilion - designed by
Herzog and de Meuron/Ai Weiwei and sponsored by international spa group ESPA.
ESPA to sponsor Ai Weiwei-designed Serpentine Gallery Pavilion POSTED 09 Mar 2012. BY Tom Walker International spa company ESPA has announced the first of its planned cultural
partnerships for 2012 with the sponsorship of the annual Serpentine Gallery
Pavilion in Hyde Park, London, UK.
Off the back of the success of the first round of Everyday Heritage Grants in 2022, Historic
England is funding 56 creative projects that honour the heritage of working-class England.
Universal has revealed it will be adding new Harry Potter attractions, alongside Super Nintendo
and How to Train Your Dragon worlds to its Florida resort.
Chinese artist Ai Weiwei exhibiting first original works in Paris department store
POSTED 19 Jan 2016 . BY Kim Megson
The show is Ai Weiwei's first exhibition of original works in France Credit: Le Bon Marché
In a surprise move, the Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is exhibiting his first original works in France at a luxury department store in Paris.
The show, named Er Xi, Air de Jeux (Child’s Play), features more than 100 bamboo and silk kites and 3D structures depicting mythological creatures from Chinese legend.
The exhibition at Le Bon Marché – which will run to 20 February 2016 and is promoting a store sale – is inspired by the artist's childhood, his previous works and the Chinese book of myths Shan Hai Jing (‘The Classic of Mountains and Seas’), which is over 2,000 years old.
Kite makers from China’s Shandong Province worked with Weiwei to create the fantastical kites, which are many shapes and sizes and represent birds, fish, dragons and a selection of other fantastical creatures.
The exhibition is divided into three areas of the store: the ten exterior storefront display cases, the atriums and the gallery, which is being patrolled by a large dragon made of woven bamboo.
“The city of Paris is like a myth to me; it is another world,” said Weiwei. “Mythology symbolises a parallel world to ours which is our imagination, our dreams, our fears, our history. It is like a mirror that reflects our society and our personality and helps us understand our world. “
“I hope the show can surprise and amaze people and make their lives a little more joyous and colourful.”
Asked to describe the challenges of creating art for a department store, Weiwei said: “This is the kind of place I love having my work presented; a place directly linked to the city and its citizens. It is not really a place of art, but it is associated with trends and lifestyle.
“Yes, it represented a real challenge for me to create works specifically for a department store, but that made it all the more interesting.”
The artist is most famous around the world for his politically-influenced works, which led to him being placed under house arrest in China and unable to travel for four years.
The exhibition runs until 20 February Credit: Le Bon Marché
A woven bamboo dragon floats in the store's main gallery Credit: Le Bon Marché
The show, named Er Xi, Air de Jeux (Child’s Play), features more than 100 bamboo and silk kites Credit: Le Bon Marché
Displays in the storefront windows re-tell stories from Chinese mythology Credit: Le Bon Marché
Delicate 3D models have also been used in the show Credit: Le Bon Marché
Kite makers from China’s Shandong Province worked with Weiwei to create the fantastical kites Credit: Ai Weiwei
The main material used is bamboo Credit: Ai Weiwei
RELATED STORIES
Ai Weiwei unveils art exhibition at Alcatraz prison POSTED 03 Oct 2014. BY Katie Buckley America’s Alcatraz - one of the world’s most notorious prisons and now a top tourist
attraction - is to play host to an art and sculpture exhibition by dissident artist Ai Weiwei.
London's Serpentine Gallery opens ESPA-sponsored Pavilion POSTED 06 Jun 2012. BY Pete Hayman The Serpentine Gallery in London, UK has opened its 2012 Pavilion - designed by
Herzog and de Meuron/Ai Weiwei and sponsored by international spa group ESPA.
ESPA to sponsor Ai Weiwei-designed Serpentine Gallery Pavilion POSTED 09 Mar 2012. BY Tom Walker International spa company ESPA has announced the first of its planned cultural
partnerships for 2012 with the sponsorship of the annual Serpentine Gallery
Pavilion in Hyde Park, London, UK.
Off the back of the success of the first round of Everyday Heritage Grants in 2022, Historic
England is funding 56 creative projects that honour the heritage of working-class England.
Universal has revealed it will be adding new Harry Potter attractions, alongside Super Nintendo
and How to Train Your Dragon worlds to its Florida resort.
Populous have unveiled their plans for a state-of-the-art e-sports arena, designed to stand as a
central landmark in Qiddaya City’s gaming and e-sports district, Saudi Arabia.
