John Green and Ai Weiwei

Get ready for rambles! So tonight I watched a video by Author and You Tuber John Green. As he is my favorite Vlog Brother (I'm sorry Hank!!!)  I make it a point to watch all of his videos. Today's video was about the exhibition Ai Weiwei: According to What? which is on view right now at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.  Here is a link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDwTjPsG4b0


(If you haven't seen a video by the Vlog Brothers, check them out! They have videos on a variety of subjects and are just so entertaining! But be warned, I got hooked and it took me three months to watch all of their videos.)

In his video, John Green discusses his visit to the exhibition. He states that he believes that Ai Weiwei"...is  Probably the most important artist alive...".  And I find it hard to argue with Mr. Green. Ai WeiWei records his life, draws attention to social issues, and creates work that is so emotional that sometimes it is hard to experience it.

He uses social media to create and distribute his art. Here is his Tumblr, which has gained acclaim on the interwebs: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/ai%20weiwei . Not only is his art thought provoking and emotion filled, but it is impeccably made and thought out.  My favorite images, are of his worked "Stacked" where is created a maze-like installation of 7,600 bicycles to represent over consumerism, but also a vital piece of Chinese transportation:http://www.treehugger.com/urban-design/ai-weiwei-bicycle.html

Ai Weiwei has undergone so many hardships and even persecution for his work. I am sure many of you heard about his 2011 arrest and detainment by the Chinese government for "economic crimes". He was held in a detention center for 81 days before he was released. I find his event almost unbelievable because just 3 years before he was the head designer for the Chinese nest stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, Ai Weiwei did distance himself from the project as it progressed.

  I am not saying that other artists don't fit this criteria,  have similar experiences of persecution with their work, or don't create work that touches the viewer's emotions. However Ai Weiwei's work is so raw and meaningful that I feel that it should hold a special and high place in our "post post contemporary modern art" world.  (I am still not sure what era of art we are in... Are we Po-Po-Mo, or Po-Po-Co-Mo... or just contemporary...?  A topic for another time.)

Here is the link to the IMA web page for the show: http://www.imamuseum.org/aiweiwei . The show is touring the country! I unfortunately will not have the chance to go. But if you have the chance, GO. SEE. IT.  It should be amazing.

Also, the 2012 documentary Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry is available on Netflix Streaming!  I know what I am doing tonight.  Have a great evening everyone.