Ai Weiwei on creating political art in the Trump era, as his Lego portraits go on show in Washington
In his latest exhibition, the Chinese artist has created large portraits of political prisoners using more than 1 million Lego bricks
Chinese artist and provocateur Ai Weiwei relishes the symbolism of displaying his portraits of political dissidents and activists in the American capital at a time when human rights and liberties are eroding around the world.
It’s not a subtle gesture, but that suits Ai. After all, he’s celebrated for a series of photographs in which he gives the finger to major national monuments, including the White House and Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.
“To do a show of portraits of political prisoners here is very meaningful, especially today,” Ai says at the home of his latest exhibition – the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington. “It’s more than ever relevant to look at those issues and values, and to defend them.”
That the portraits are made of 1.2 million Lego bricks emphasises the artist’s playful touch. The toys are as familiar as water and air, he says; freedom should be as ubiquitous.
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“Those very meaningful values are often related to the most simple tools,” he says. The artist often uses everyday objects – from children’s backpacks to wooden stools to sunflower seeds - to create sculptures and installations.