Ponti Art Gallery is interested in buying and selling works
of art by this artist.
Ai Weiwei Biography
Ai Weiwei is a Chinese contemporary artist, documentarian, and activist whose work is internationally recognized for its powerful political commentary and exploration of Chinese cultural history and identity. Born on August 28, 1957, in Beijing, Ai Weiwei's early life was marked by political turmoil. His father, Ai Qing, was a renowned poet who was denounced during the Anti-Rightist Movement and subsequently exiled to a labor camp in remote China, where Ai spent his formative years.
In 1978, Ai enrolled at the Beijing Film Academy and became a part of the avant-garde artists' collective known as the "Stars," which was instrumental in introducing modern art forms to China. Seeking greater artistic freedom, Ai moved to the United States in 1981, where he attended the Parsons School of Design in New York and was exposed to the works of influential artists such as Marcel Duchamp, Andy Warhol, and Jasper Johns. During his time in New York, Ai also became friends with the influential Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, who encouraged him to explore his creativity and engage in political activism.
Ai returned to China in 1993 after his father fell ill. Back in Beijing, he established himself as a leading figure in the Chinese contemporary art scene, founding the experimental artists' group "Stars" and opening the China Art Archives and Warehouse, one of the first independent art spaces in Beijing. Ai's work began to gain significant international recognition in the late 2000s, with major exhibitions such as "According to What?" at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo (2009) and the installation of "Sunflower Seeds" at the Tate Modern in London.
Ai's activism and critiques of the Chinese government led to his arrest and detention for 81 days in 2011. Despite this, he continued to create art and speak out against oppression, becoming an international symbol of artistic freedom and resistance. His perseverance and dedication to social justice have been unwavering, and he has expanded his artistic practice to include documentary filmmaking, directing films such as "Human Flow" (2017), which explores the global refugee crisis, and "Coronation" (2020), which offers a glimpse into China's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ai Weiwei's art style is a form of Conceptual or Performance art, often performing a simple action with a deeper meaning. He combines Western Conceptual and Minimalist traditions in his refusal to pleasure the eye and encapsulates political conviction in his sculptures, photographs, and public works. His recurrent manipulations of Chinese cultural artifacts juxtapose the materiality of tradition with contemporary life.
Throughout his career, Ai has used a variety of materials, including ceramics, marble, paint, and tea, to campaign for human rights with works dealing with oppression, commemoration, and Chinese identity and social history. His work is as poignant as it is provocative, with no division between art and politics. Ai has worked in everything from paint to readymades, and his art has been featured in landmark exhibitions examining his work from 1993 up to the present day.
Since being allowed to leave China in 2015, Ai has lived in various locations, including Berlin, Germany, Cambridge, UK, and Lisbon, Portugal. His work continues to challenge and inspire, blending the profound with the playful and serving as a testament to his creative genius. Ai Weiwei's skill in creating a visual narrative that celebrates diversity and cultural richness has made him one of the most influential artists of our time, with a legacy that continues to evolve and provoke thought and conversation around the world.
Ai Weiwei Quotes and Sales of
Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
If you wish to purchase works by the painter: Contact us
and let us know your request. We will inform you about the
available works. We also offer the possibility to
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informed at the beginning of each month about the latest
acquisitions of the art gallery.
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