Screenprint on Somerset Velvet Antique 280gsm paper
- Hand-signed and numbered by the artist
Cedar (Large) by Ai Weiwei, created in 2022, is a limited edition screenprint rendered on Somerset Velvet Antique 280gsm paper. The print depicts a detailed, line-drawn image of a tree trunk with its branches extending upward, showcasing Ai Weiwei's attention to natural forms and textures. The simplicity of the monochromatic design contrasts with the complexity of the tree's structure, evoking a sense of both strength and fragility inherent in nature. The piece is hand-signed and numbered, highlighting its exclusive, limited edition status of only 50 prints. Weiwei’s work often merges art with social commentary, and this print subtly reflects his continuous engagement with themes of nature, resilience, and transformation.
Ai Weiwei (China, 1957) is a globally influential artist and activist blending conceptual art with political commentary. Known for provocative works like Sunflower Seeds and Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn, he critiques authority, censorship, and human rights abuses. His installations, films, and public interventions challenge societal norms and inspire global dialogue.
Screen-print Screen printing is a technique where ink is transferred through a mesh onto a substrate, with areas blocked by a stencil to prevent ink from passing through. This method, also known as serigraphy or silkscreen printing, is commonly used to produce prints on posters, T-shirts, vinyl, stickers, wood, and other materials. The process is a type of stencil printing, allowing for vibrant, detailed designs on various surfaces.
Screenprint on Somerset Velvet Antique 280gsm paper
- Hand-signed and numbered by the artist
Cedar (Large) by Ai Weiwei, created in 2022, is a limited edition screenprint rendered on Somerset Velvet Antique 280gsm paper. The print depicts a detailed, line-drawn image of a tree trunk with its branches extending upward, showcasing Ai Weiwei's attention to natural forms and textures. The simplicity of the monochromatic design contrasts with the complexity of the tree's structure, evoking a sense of both strength and fragility inherent in nature. The piece is hand-signed and numbered, highlighting its exclusive, limited edition status of only 50 prints. Weiwei’s work often merges art with social commentary, and this print subtly reflects his continuous engagement with themes of nature, resilience, and transformation.
Ai Weiwei (China, 1957) is a globally influential artist and activist blending conceptual art with political commentary. Known for provocative works like Sunflower Seeds and Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn, he critiques authority, censorship, and human rights abuses. His installations, films, and public interventions challenge societal norms and inspire global dialogue.
If my art has nothing to do with people's pain and sorrow, what is 'art' for?
- Ai Weiwei
Receiving worldwide acclaim for his activism, Ai Weiwei’s work spans across several mediums as an architect, curator and filmmaker. Ai’s most recognised social commentaries pertain to the Chinese government and the loss of traditional culture; Sunflower Seeds - a piece displayed at the Tate Modern - featured the scattering of over 60 million hand-painted porcelain ‘seeds’, an allusion to the destructive nature of mass consumption and the subsequent loss of individuality. Prior to the cultural revolution that took place in China, Ai and his family had first been sent to a labour camp, then subsequently exiled for 16 years. Upon the Chinese reform, Ai moved to New York and was notably influenced by the work of Andy Warhol and Marcel Duchamp; he also met beat poet, Allen Ginsberg, around this time, and developed his own philosophies on the schism between Western and traditional cultures. Coca Cola Vase is another of Ai’s most acclaimed works; a Han dynasty urn that has been emblazoned with the Coca Cola logo – another nod to the ever-expanding consumerist culture. (Artist website)
Minimalism is a style in music and visual arts characterized by pared-down designs and simplicity. It began in Western art after World War II, gaining prominence particularly in American visual arts. Minimalism draws heavily on aspects of modernism and is often viewed as a reaction against Abstract Expressionism, as well as a precursor to post-minimal art practices. Prominent minimalist artists include Agnes Martin, Donald Judd, Robert Morris, Frank Stella, and Dan Flavin.