Zhou Yan Contemporary Chinese Art Archive 周彦当代中国艺术档案
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Date
2011
Format
Other
Exhibition Event Title
Ai Weiwei: According to What?
Date of Exhibition Event
October 7, 2012 - February 24, 2013
Location of Exhibition Event
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C., United States
Materials
Porcelain
Dimensions
3000 pieces; Each: 5 x 25 x 10 cm.; 2 x 9 7/8 x 4 in.
Description
He Xie consists of 3000 porcelain river crabs piled together. This kind of accumulation of a single, familiar object with an established meaning can be found in many of Ai Weiwei’s works. The title plays on the similar pronunciation of the Mandarin words “河蟹” (hé xiè, river crab) and “和谐” (hé xié, harmony). The latter literally means “harmony” and was frequently used in Chinese government political rhetoric. It later became an expression used on the Chinese internet to refer to online content being censored and restricted. The background of this work is closely connected to Ai Weiwei’s own experience of being “He Xie” by the Chinese government. In 2008, the Shanghai government invited Ai to build a studio in Shanghai. The studio was completed in 2010, but shortly afterward, it was ordered to be demolished on the grounds that Ai had not obtained the necessary planning permission. In November of the same year, before the studio was actually demolished, Ai invited supporters to a "River Crab Feast", eating crabs together. Around 800 people attended that event. (Source: https://maxhetzler.com/artists/ai-weiwei/selected-works) (Yida Du '29)
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