As of 2014, Contemporary artist and activist Ai Weiwei (previously covered here) remains under restrictions of movement- but he continues to criticize the Chinese regime through his art. Opening tomorrow, the Faurschou Foundation Copenhagen in Denmark will showcase some of his most notable pieces to date, including new sculptures, with “Ruptures.” The exhibition is named for the rupture in Weiwei’s career by the Chinese government, while showcasing the staying power of his work. Notably, a small version of his “Sunflower Seeds” installation is featured alongside repurposed wood from Buddhist temples, destroyed during China’s Cultural Revolution in the 1960s. The life-sized sunflower seeds are actually hand-crafted in porcelain, in stark contrast to the harsh reality of the temples’ ruins. Another one of Weiwei’s most well known works on display is “Straight”. This piece also reuses materials, from collapsed schoolhouses during the 2008 Sichuan earthquake which have been hammered ‘straight’. Weiwei consistently confronts the viewer with tragedy, concerned over our ability to move on as if these events never took place. While Weiwei is still under strict surveillance, curatorial projects like this collection exhibit the endurance of his art in the face of scrutiny and detention.
For five years in a row, the open air exhibition "Sculpture in the City" has brought some of the best contemporary artists to the public in London. Opening this week on July 9th, this year's installment will feature new works by Ekkehard Altenburger, Bruce Beasley, Adam Chodzko, Ceal Floyer, Laura Ford, Damien Hirst, Shan Hur, Folkert de Jong, Sigalit Landau, Kris Martin, Keita Miyazaki, Tomoaki Suzuki, Xavier Veilhan, and Ai Weiwei. The exhibit merges the new with the old as their works are set against the city's most historic landmarks. Take a look at more photos of Sculpture in the City 2015 as it comes together, after the jump.
Ceramics is one of the most ancient industries on the planet, nearly 27,000 years old to be exact. While most of us think of pottery or decorative objects, a new exhibition at Bonnefanten Museum in the Netherlands aims to illustrate ceramic's staying power as a higher art form. Opening on October 16th, "Ceramix" will feature works by artists such as Matisse, Rodin, and Picasso, to more contemporary artists like Ai Weiwei, Jeff Koons, Luigi Alders, Jessica Harrison, and Katsuyo Aoki, who was featured in 
Sexy and subversive,