Circle of Animals / Zodiac Heads

Creator(s)

• Wei-Wei AI 艾未未

Preview

Date

2010

Format

Other

Materials

Bronze

Dimensions

Snake: 299.7 × 134.6 × 160 cm (118 × 53 × 63 in.) 2. Ox: 325.1 × 157.5 × 160 cm (128 × 62 × 63 in.) 3. Dragon: 340.4 × 167.6 × 195.6 cm (134 × 66 × 77 in.) 4. Dog: 302.3 × 134.6 × 172.7 cm (119 × 53 × 68 in.) 5. Monkey: 302.3 × 134.6 × 142.2 cm (119 × 53 × 56 in.) 6. Ram: 304.8 × 152.4 × 157.5 cm (120 × 60 × 62 in.) 7. Tiger: 327.7 × 134.6 × 157.5 cm (129 × 53 × 62 in.) 8. Horse: 302.3 × 134.6 × 154.9 cm (119 × 53 × 61 in.) 9. Rat: 302.3 × 134.6 × 160 cm (119 × 53 × 63 in.) 10. Rabbit: 302.3 × 134.6 × 160 cm (119 × 53 × 63 in.) 11. Pig: 302.3 × 134.6 × 170.2 cm (119 × 53 × 67 in.) 12. Rooster: 365.8 × 134.6 × 139.7 cm (144 × 53 × 55 in.)

Description

Circle of Animals is a sculptural work created by Ai Weiwei in 2010, consisting of twelve animal heads representing the twelve animals of the traditional Chinese zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The work was inspired by the original bronze zodiac heads from Yuanmingyuan (Meaning Garden of Perfect Brightness) in Beijing, dating back to the Qing dynasty. These bronze heads were originally part of a fountain clock in the Yuanmingyuan. In 1860, the British and French armies looted and destroyed Yuanmingyuan during the Second Opium War. Drawing inspiration from these historical artifacts, Ai Weiwei created two versions of the sculptures: a monumental bronze edition and a smaller gold plated bronze edition. Through this work, Ai Weiwei explores the political and social debates surrounding Chinese historical artifacts and their cultural value. (Source: https://artmuseum.princeton.edu/art/collections/objects/81122) (Yida Du '29)