Ai, Weiwei | History of Bombs, 2020 — available on Composition Gallery

Offset lithograph Printed to 170gsm FSC paper - Signed - Published by the Imperial War Museum, London, on wove paper

This offset lithograph print by Ai Weiwei offers a detailed and chilling visual catalog of bombs, tracing their development and historical use. Displayed in stark metallic tones against a black background, the artwork meticulously depicts a variety of bomb designs, from conventional munitions to more modern and advanced models. The piece is as much a study in industrial design as it is a commentary on the destructive power and legacy of warfare. By arranging these objects systematically, Weiwei forces the viewer to confront the scale and impact of these weapons. Published by the Imperial War Museum, the print serves as both a historical reflection and a powerful anti-war statement.

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.

Weiwei Ai

History of Bombs, 2020

Name: History of Bombs, 2020
SKU: 13953
Price: 2450.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Form

Limited Edition Print

Limited Edition PrintA limited edition print is one of a number of prints made at the same time from one printmaking plate. A fixed number are made and signed by the artist, indicating the printing order, using the format 1/10, meaning first of ten prints.

Medium

Offset Print

Offset PrintOffset lithography is a printing technique where the inked image is first transferred (offset) from a plate to a rubber blanket and then to the printing surface. This method combines the lithographic process, which relies on the repulsion of water and oil, to keep non-printing areas ink-free by attracting a water-based film. Offset lithography was originally developed to reduce costs in reproducing artwork and is widely used for high-volume printing due to its efficiency and ability to produce sharp, consistent images.

Edition

Edition of 200

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Offset lithograph Printed to 170gsm FSC paper - Signed - Published by the Imperial War Museum, London, on wove paper

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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)

Artwork by Miles Aldridge

What is contemporary art?

Contemporary art refers to avant-garde or innovative art created in the recent past or present day. The exact starting point of contemporary art varies depending on the institution, often tied to the founding year of museums or galleries that showcase the style. Contemporary art is characterized by its focus on current ideas, diverse media, and the exploration of new concepts and techniques.

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Weiwei Ai

History of Bombs, 2020

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Medium

Size

Edition

Price

Artworks

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Biography

Bio

Hanging Man in Porcelain, 2009

Year of the Ox, 2021

The Odyssey, 2017

Freud Banner, 2018

Vase (Blue), 2024

Vase (Green), 2024

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Human Flow, 2023

Free Speech, 2023

BOMB, 2020

Cats (black), 2022

Cats (Pink), 2022

Pequi Tree, 2021

Turquoise, 2015

Middle Finger, 2023

Cedar Tree, 2023

History of Bombs, 2020

Cats, red, 2022

3D Printing of My Left Hand, 2022

Glass Vase, 2023

Artist's Hand, 2017

River Crabs (from Papercut Portfolio), 2019

The Papercut Portfolio, 2019

The artist activist - Art edition

Middle Finge(...), 2023

Cedar (Large(...), 2022

Zodiac (from(...), 2019

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Cats and Dog(...), 2020

Haircut (fro(...), 2019

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The Thin Lin(...), 2017

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Shanghai Stu(...), 2011

Colored Vase(...), 2007

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