Passing Strangers

“I have visited dozens of refugee camps in Greece, Turkey, Syria, Israel and the Gaza Strip and talked with all these people”, 艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi) told a press conference as he presented his artwork show in Florence, Italy. “Those who are fighting for their freedom are the heroes of today and my work is none other than telling them the profound respect that I have for them”. His Florentine exhibit, dubbed “Ai Weiwei. Libero” (Free), started on Friday and will run until January 22 at Palazzo Strozzi. “I chose Florence for the exhibition because Italy is the country with the most refugees, it never rejects them, unlike other nations”, 艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi) said.

The exhibit includes some 60 works, from installations to sculptures or photographs. Photo: AFP/Gabriel Bouys.

The Lost Lawyer

• Tom Phillips, China: lawyer for 艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi) jailed for 12 years in “severe retaliation”, The Guardian, September 22, 2016

Lawyer 夏霖 (Xià Lín) with wife of outspoken Chinese artist 艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi) in 2011. Photo: 王身敦 (Andy Wong)/AP.

The Importance of Not Being Arcovazzi

艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi)’s flagship installation “Reframe” consists of 22 rubber inflatable lifeboats attached to the windows of Palazzo Strozzi’s façade. Thus he represents the desperate plight of refugees who risk their lives to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean. Photo © Bernardo Ricci Armani.

艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi) during his visit to a refugee camp in Idomeni, Greece in March 2016. Photo: 艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi) Studio.

The Parrot Who Thought He Was a Man

艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi)’s Chinese Wakouwa (Push Puppet): “Everything is art. Everything is politics”. Photo: ebay.ie.

Tamtam

艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi) gives the finger to 北京 (Běijīng)’s iconic 故宫 (Forbidden City), but don’t guess any explicit meaning. It’s just his special navigator! So, if you can’t find him, you know what you have to do: just call “艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi). Libero” in his special navigator and let it take you straight to him!

Iron Tree

艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi), Iron Tree, 2013

It is worth remembering that from 23 September 2016 to 22 January 2017, Palazzo Strozzi in Florence will host Italy’s first major retrospective devoted to 艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi), one of the world’s most prominent and influential contemporary artists from China: “艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi). Libero”.

Does Superman Need to Sleep?

Moscow, Russia: An artwork displayed at the #project64: in/dependence exhibition as part of the Artmossphere 2nd Biennale of Street Art. Photo: Sergei Fadeichev/TASS.

中秋节快乐！

艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi)’s flagship installation “Reframe” consists of 22 rubber inflatable lifeboats attached to the windows of Palazzo Strozzi’s façade. Thus he represents the desperate plight of refugees who risk their lives to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean. Photo: OnuItalia.com.

The Importance of Not Being Arcovazzi

Chinese contemporary artist 艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi) lying face down in Lesbos in the Aegean sea as a tribute to 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi in a bid to highlight the plight of Syrian refugees. Photo: Rohit Chawl.

It is worth remembering that from 23 September 2016 to 22 January 2017, Palazzo Strozzi in Florence will host Italy’s first major retrospective devoted to 艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi), one of the world’s most prominent and influential contemporary artists from China: “艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi). Libero”.

Dark Light

PAROLE (2015), BAMBI (2014) and TWIZ (2015) by Evren Tekinoktay Danish artist Evren Tekinoktay specialises in garish yet elegant neon-enhanced tableaux – she also makes films and even opened a lingerie shop in Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo: Christopher Thomond.

Maybe he will free me, too

It is worth remembering that during next autumn and winter, from 23 September 2016 to 22 January 2017, Palazzo Strozzi in Florence will host Italy’s first major retrospective devoted to 艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi), one of the world’s most prominent and influential contemporary artists from China: “艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi). Libero”.

Lego Star Wars

During next autumn and winter, from 23 September 2016 to 22 January 2017, Palazzo Strozzi in Florence will host Italy’s first major retrospective devoted to 艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi), one of the world’s most prominent and influential contemporary artists. For further information, see http://www.palazzostrozzi.org/mostre/aiweiwei/.

艾未未 (Ài Wèiwèi), Forever (Bicycles), 2003
Photo: WikiArt

迁徙 (Migrations)

刘小东 (Liú Xiǎodōng)
迁徙 (Migrations)

From 22 April 2016 to 19 June 2016, the Strozzina area of Palazzo Strozzi in Florence hosts and will host a major one-man show devoted to the work of 刘小东 (Liú Xiǎodōng), one of China’s most important and original contemporary artists. Daily 12,00 – 20,00 / Free Thursdays 18,00 – 23,00.

We Did Not Die

Douma, Syria: Schoolgirls sit in their classroom at the Saif al-Dawla school as they take part in an art project organised as part of a local initiative to shift the children’s minds from the atrocities of the Syrian war. Photo: Abd Doumany/AFP/Getty Images.

Welcome to Saif al-Dawla school

Douma, Syria: School girls at Saif al-Dawla school as they take part in activities surrounding an art competition organised to shift the children’s minds from the atrocities of the war. Photo: Abd Doumany/AFP/Getty Images.

The Frog Princess

Madrid, Spain: Body painting artists perform a figure in the shape of a frog during the El Hormiguero television programme at the Vertice Studios. Photo: Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images.

Сучасне мистецтво (Contemporary Art)

Flight attendants pose in front of a painted Antonov-24 at Zhulyany airport in Kiev, Ukraine. The 45-year-old plane has been turned into an arts and exhibition space. Photo: Gleb Garanich/Reuters.