Retrospective of Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei opens in Brussels in September

The first major retrospective exhibition in Belgium dedicated to Ai Weiwei is presented by the Patrick Derom Gallery in Brussels from 19 September to 14 November

It brings together more than 50 works spanning over three decades by China’s most famous living artist –  presented in two venues in the Sablon district.

“The exhibition offers a broad survey of a body of work in which art, political engagement, cultural memory and freedom of expression are inextricably linked,” the gallery said in a statement.

Ai Weiwei’s international prominence stems both from his multidisciplinary artistic practice and his longstanding commitment to political and social freedom. Through sculpture, film, installation, photography, architecture and an array of different materials, he has campaigned for human rights with works dealing with oppression, commemoration and Chinese identity and social history.

The exhibition features emblematic works from the 1990s such as the photographic series Study of Perspective (pictured above), as well as iconic pieces like Han Dynasty Urn with Coca-Cola Logo (pictured below). In this latter work, the artist confronts cultural heritage with symbols and contradictions of contemporary society.

Among contemporary works are the LEGO compositions Illumination and pieces made with buttons, including F.U.C.K. Sculptural works such as Grapes and Strength, and the monumental installation Left Right Studio Material and Snake Ceiling, which demonstrates the evolution of the artist’s visual language. 

In parallel, the Musée Émile Verhaeren presents an exhibition exploring the remarkable connection between the Belgian poet Émile Verhaeren and the poet and activist Ai Qing, Ai Weiwei’s father.

Ai Weiwei: The Art of Defiance
19 September to 14 November
Patrick Derom Gallery
Rue aux Laines 1
Brussels

Photos: Ai Weiwei in Red, 2022, Toy bricks mounted on aluminum, courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio; Han Dynasty Urn with Coca-Cola Logo, 1994, Western Han Dynasty urn, paint, courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio; Study of Perspective 1995–2011, 1995–2011, Tiananmen Square, 1995, courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio