Engraved signature and numbering
- Tin (welded, polished and finished by hand)
Ai Weiwei’s Pequi Tree is a mixed-media sculpture created in 2021, meticulously crafted from welded and polished tin. Standing at 32 cm tall, this piece resembles the organic, elongated form of a tree, specifically the pequi tree, which is native to Brazil. The artist has transformed this natural shape into a refined metallic structure, emphasizing texture and detail. The rough yet elegant surface evokes the resilience and endurance of trees, mirroring Weiwei's broader exploration of nature, strength, and cultural heritage. This piece is both a celebration of nature's form and a reflection on human interaction with the environment, signed and numbered by the artist.
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.
Mixed MediaMixed media refers to artwork that incorporates more than one medium within a single piece. Unlike multimedia art, which combines distinct forms of visual art and often includes elements like sound, video, or digital media, mixed media focuses on combining traditional art materials, such as paint, ink, and collage. Mixed media art allows artists to achieve a wide range of effects and textures by layering and blending different materials.
Engraved signature and numbering
- Tin (welded, polished and finished by hand)
Ai Weiwei’s Pequi Tree is a mixed-media sculpture created in 2021, meticulously crafted from welded and polished tin. Standing at 32 cm tall, this piece resembles the organic, elongated form of a tree, specifically the pequi tree, which is native to Brazil. The artist has transformed this natural shape into a refined metallic structure, emphasizing texture and detail. The rough yet elegant surface evokes the resilience and endurance of trees, mirroring Weiwei's broader exploration of nature, strength, and cultural heritage. This piece is both a celebration of nature's form and a reflection on human interaction with the environment, signed and numbered by the artist.
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.