Review of AI WEIWEI Exhibition

Today, I finally came to a very popular exhibition----AI WEIWEI Exhibition in London. Most of people had seen it when it opening at 19/09/2015. Ai is a very popular an artist in recent years, but also a very controversial artist. Because of his artworks involve a lot of political factors.

Perhaps, many westerners think he is a warrior, because he dared to do fight with the government for freedom of speech.

Actually, I do not think so. For me, I live in China more than 25 years. In my view, sometimes, our government does not perfect but it does not mean Chinese government does not try the best for Chinese. Further more, I think there is not any government will be the perfect. Ai just put the not well side into infinite amplification so that to attract people. There is no doubt that he is successful, but I do not appreciate this approach. There are too many exaggerated in Ai’s art works.

In other side, I've always believed that art is pure thing. Art would be not pure, if doped with other thing in the art, especially the political. Art will be difficult to define. So, for me, it cannot be defined Ai’s exhibition is good or not. His works reflect a part of reality, but inevitably overblown. I do not have too much sympathy about Ai’s artworks, I think it is hard to define for me. On the contrary, foreigners find Ai’s art was very interesting, because they could feel that this is an opportunity to know China and Chinese artists.

In addition, I think the environment in Ai’s exhibition was so terrible at Royal Academic of Arts, because there were too many people in one show at the same time. The place could not provide a good environment and atmosphere.