Photography by Erik Tanner; Courtesy SHADOWPLAY Magazine
Ibrahim Komrji: “Twelve days before the U.S. Elections, during a moment of intense tension, I sat down with the iconoclast artist Ai Weiwei, one of the most provocative and transformative figures in contemporary art, ahead of the opening of his show ‘Child’s Play’ at the Vito Schnabel Gallery in New York City. The new exhibition transforms toy bricks into monumental works that reimagine seminal images with wit and precision. We met on the gallery’s lower floor. Ai spoke with a magnetic, intimate energy—his low voice drawing you in, his focus unwavering, his humour and curiosity palpable.”
Ai Weiwei: “I work with what is around me, my direct experience. I never do something just for the sake of beauty. I want to play with art history. The original paintings I reference are all considered icons for their high aesthetic value. I want to play with this idea of the icon. I love Warhol who has worked extensively on the icon, and I just play with it.”
—Ai Weiwei interviewed by Ibrahim Kombarji, October 2024