On Saturday morning we left Belleville at 7:00 am to make the ten o'clock opening of the Art Gallery of Ontario. We had tickets for the Ai Weiwei exhibit at the gallery. He is a remarkable, contemporary artist who uses his creativity to make powerful counter-cultural statements in the oppressive state which is China. It is fair to say that Ai Weiwei is China's most prominent and recognizable dissident, but despite his international profile he has paid a price for being outspoken. He has been imprisoned, his family has been harassed, one of his studios was destroyed. Although the According to What exhibit/installation is touring major galleries in North America he cannot leave China and lives under virtual house arrest.
One installation in the exhibit is tons of rebar pulled from the wreckage of an earthquake. Afterward it was apparent that corruption had resulted in shoddy construction so that buildings collapsed and many lives were lost. The twisted rebar was painstakingly straightened and transformed into a wave-like structure. It is adjacent to a wall which lists the names of 5,000 children who died in the earthquake. There is also a huge snake created of children's backpacks to commemorate the lost children.
Many of the pieces are arresting because Ai Weiwei uses traditional Chinese objects and artisanal techniques and transforms them with his contemporary imagination. We both loved the exhibit, and it reminded us of the price which is paid by those who do not accept the status quo.
During the sleepy days of summer the lectionary has invited us to hear from the biblical prophets whose voices still stir us to action thousands of years after they lived and challenged the religious and political mores of their time. Amos and Hosea, Isaiah and Jeremiah, have spoken to us powerfully during these weeks. We know that some of them were reluctant to put on the mantle of prophecy.
I wonder if Ai Weiwei can be considered a modern-day prophet, whatever his religious sensibilities might be.
Will you go to see this exhibit, or have you already? Is art an appropriate medium for dissidence? What about the prophetic role? Does Ai Weiwei fit the bill?
2 comments:
In that a prophet "tells forth" the truth for the day, yes, Al Weiwei can be considered to be a modern day prophet. And a very gifted one . And, yes, prophets are often unpopular! Wish I could get to see his work... another adventure planned, which takes me in a different direction!
Sounds fantastic, and all the more so because of the fact he's presently under lock and key.
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