Art 🌎
Ai Weiwei’s Trace in Chicago by Alphawood Exhibitions
Ai Weiwei’s, Chinese Contemporary artist and activist, artworks are often politically charged and controversial. Some of you might remember back in 2015 in Australia, Ai was looking for people to donate Lego blocks for an exhibit at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, because the company refused to sell their toy bricks to the internationally acclaimed artist. They cannot approve bulk sales to support political works (#oops). No problem for the artist because where there is a will, there is a way. Ai reached out to his online community and started a campaign to collect Lego blocks via donation in empty parked cars all over the world. Well, it worked....there was a successful exhibition at the National Gallery in Victoria and Lego changed their policy. Yay for freedom of expression!
Trace was created in 2014 as a site-specific installation of 176 portraits of political prisoners from around the world created with Lego tiles on the floor. Ai used Legos for the universality of the brick, something recognizable that binds us all together. This work was originally designed to be exhibited for FOR-SITE Foundation to build awareness and exhibited at Alcatraz, but can be adopted to different locations. Trace eventually made it to The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, a Smithsonian Museum now sponsoring it to tour the United States.
I was lucky to catch it in Chicago at the Alphawood Foundation’s brand new Tadao Ando designed exhibition space. (they said they would have an official opening in October, I’m waiting patiently for my invitation).
The exhibition has limited access and you have to reserve tickets for a particular day and time slot. You can buy tickets directly online to see the exhibition or you can sign up for their email newsletter and they will let you know when you can sign up to see it for free. The exhibition just got extended to June 30, 2018. GO SEE IT!
The site-specific work was installed on the floor of 3 stories of the building. Each floor had a touch screen where you can look up more info about each portrait. Because of the limited access, it is quiet and serene. One can really spend time to contemplate and soak in the whole thing. They also have tons of volunteers and workers all around to answer questions. Be sure to walk around and check out the beautiful building and it’s views.
Alphawood Foundation is a Chicago-based, grant-making private foundation working for an equitable, just, and humane society. Each year we award grants to organizations, primarily in the areas of advocacy, architecture and preservation, the arts and arts education, promotion and protection of the rights of LGBT citizens and people living with HIV/AIDS, and other human and civil rights.
For a list of all 176 political prisoners, go to the FOR-SITE Foundation website.
-Inez Suen @inezsuenart
