Ai Weiwei: According to What? [Photos]

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei’s first major exhibit in the United States – “According to What?” – opened a few weeks ago at DC’s Hirshhorn Museum. Taking up almost the entire 2nd floor of the museum as well as a couple of spaces on the ground floor and third floor, According to What? is extensive and impressive. I instantly “got” the message that Weiwei was trying to convey. His exhibit is a commentary on the modern overtaking the ancient, of might overtaking right. I’ve described the exhibit in this article on my USA Travel site and that piece also includes links to more scholarly reviews of the exhibit than I can provide.

Following are some photographs I took inside “According to What?” I cannot stress to you enough how cool this exhibit is, so check it out at the Hirshhorn before February 24, 2013. After that, it will travel to some other cities in the USA, including Indianapolis, Miami, and Brooklyn.

Ai Weiwei: According to What?

A Circle of Shanghai “Forever” Bicycles

Time Lapse Photos of the “Bird’s Nest” Stadium

Students gathered around “Grapes” by Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei Self-Portrait in Brooklyn in the 1980s

Ai Weiwei’s Urn Series – Photos and Paint-Dipped

Ancient Urn Emblazoned with Coca-Cola Logo

Ai Weiwei Gives the Finger to The White House

Marble Surveillance Camera

Tiger from Ai Weiwei’s “Zodiac Heads” Series

All photos © Melanie Renzulli