In 81 Questions, Ai Weiwei combines his affinity for readymades with his indefatigable activism in this new series of 81 hand-signed and embossed screen prints.
"Each Lego brick pixel represents a person" says Ai Weiwei, who incorporates the plastic construction toy - a readymade material incorporated into many of his most recent works - into his print design for the very first time. The black egalitarian pixel font and embossed baseplate combine artisanal craft with technology to create this thought provoking and playful reflection on the world today.
Over a period of 81 days – the length of time Ai spent detained in a Chinese prison – the artist will pose 81 questions addressed to artificial intelligence (AI) and the wider public. Appearing every evening at 20:24 (local time) on Piccadilly Lights, each question carefully considers the role of humankinds’ minds and actions in a fast-changing world, amid accelerating global crises and the rise of new technologies. “This is not about freedom of speech. This is about freedom of questions,” says Ai Weiwei. “Everybody has the right to ask questions.”
Ai Weiwei - 81 Questions (What Is The One Question You Would Like To Ask Humas?) - 2024
Medium: Embossed Screenprint
Size: 500 x 500 mm
Edition of 81
Signed and numbered + COA
Price: £500 + VAT
You can order these Ai Weiwei editions from the CIRCA Shop.