Ai Weiwei
Ai Quadruplex in Dripping, 2022
Toy bricks mounted on aluminum,
228 × 228 cm
© Ai Weiwei; Photo by Argenis Apolinario, Courtesy of the artist and Vito Schnabel Gallery
The latest exhibition by provocative artist and human rights activist Ai Weiwei, titled Child's Play, has opened at the Vito Schnabel Gallery in New York. This exhibition presents works made from LEGO blocks, along with the 2024 new piece Child Play in Multiples, a reimagining of Vincent van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear. Regarding his choice of LEGO blocks as a material, the artist stated that he desires his art to remain fresh and accessible, particularly for children. The exhibition title, Child’s Play, reflects this intent. While the use of everyday materials like toy blocks makes the works more approachable, the points of appreciation are far more diverse and profound. The LEGO blocks, often referred to as the artist's new language, bridge the gap between the pixelated images of the digital age and the mosaic techniques of Hellenism, creating a unique artistic world. Over the past few years, Ai Weiwei has used LEGO blocks to reconstruct and reassemble famous news photos and classical works of art. Familiar images like Water Lilies, Christina’s World, Girl with a Pearl Earring, as well as iconic news photographs such as The Last American Soldier Leaving Afghanistan, can all be encountered through Ai Weiwei’s distinctive approach.