Chinese artist Ai Weiwei believes that all objects have Political Significance, as he sees every object as a reflection of our values and judgments. Ai is internationally recognized for using art as a means of activism across various mediums, including architecture, film, installations, and performance art.

Recently, Ai presented his first design-focused exhibition, named Making Sense, at London’s Design Museum. The exhibition showcased vast collections of found objects, ranging from ancient Stone Age weapons to crowd-sourced Lego bricks. According to Ai, each object carries Political energy, which is shaped by the user or observer’s unique lived experiences.

Born in Beijing in 1957, Ai has always been politically engaged. He is openly critical of the Chinese government and believes that the country’s architecture has stagnated under Communist Party leadership. Despite collaborating with Herzog & de Meuron on the design of the National Stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Ai distanced himself from the project as a protest against the Chinese state.

Ai’s artworks often challenge the Chinese government, such as his series Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn, which critiques the destruction of antiques during the Cultural Revolution. Additionally, Ai addresses global issues, including the refugee crisis, through his work.

While Ai acknowledges the political nature of his art, he is cautious about categorizing it. He believes that fixed categories, such as art and design, can limit creativity and understanding. Ai emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary learning in educational institutions to overcome these limitations.

Ai’s projects highlight the struggles of marginalized individuals. For example, he installed cage-like structures in New York City to protest against strict border-control measures and created a wall of life jackets worn by Syrian refugees in Québec. The artist believes that there is still much to learn about humanity and advocates for more creativity within education.

Ultimately, Ai sees art as a form of self-expression that brings communal benefits. He believes that it is an essential part of humanity and disregarding it is a waste.

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