Latest news with #AiWeiwei
Vogue
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue
How One Artist Is Transforming an Ancient Taiwanese Folk Craft
Alemani first encountered Zhang Xu's work last year while on an art-prize jury and was struck by his craftsmanship and detail. 'It seems quite simple, but it's actually incredibly sophisticated in the making,' she tells Vogue. 'What I loved was this balance between an almost fairy-tale atmosphere and something quite ritualistic and traditional that belongs very much to his family and country.' She found it a perfect match with MOIFA: 'There is something about folk art that feels very popular in a good way, in a way that is not too detached. I wanted that to translate in this installation—something that could be approached by kids and the usual visitors but also by contemporary-art-world people. Contemporary art can create new ways of seeing the amazing collection already there.' The boundaries between folk and contemporary art have long been fluid, from 1940s Art Brut; to feminist and conceptual artists reclaiming craft, ritual, and domestic traditions in the '60s and '70s; to the present, when museums and art fairs have fully embraced folk-informed contemporary practices. Today artists from Ai Weiwei and Nick Cave to El Anatsui, Kimsooja, and Jeffrey Gibson have drawn from or engaged with folk-art traditions. For Zhang Xu, however, 'Taiwanese ceremonial crafts were never considered art in my childhood—it was part of survival.' He admits to at times longing to escape the practice—though he's found freedom creating from his vision instead of fulfilling customer requests. Artist Zhang Xu Zhan as a child with his father and sister at their family's Taipei workshop Photos: Courtesy of the artist A large paper house and other effigies hang from the ceiling in Zhang Xu's family's kitchen. Funeral items are commonly prepared in advance so they can be sold the moment a client needs them. Photos: Courtesy of the artist 'What makes my relationship to these materials unique,' he observes, 'is that I don't treat them as fixed cultural symbols. They've been a part of my life for so long that I interact with them intuitively. I'm not looking at them from a distance but from lived experience.' For example, in Taiwan paper puppets are often displayed standing reverently at funerals. But in his home, where for storage they were tucked away in every available corner, 'they would often hang from the ceiling waiting to be sold, almost like bats. These everyday memories help me avoid cliché readings of tradition and instead find new ways of interpreting them.' Zhang Xu says that his father, who still works the family trade, doesn't quite understand his son's career—he criticizes his animals as not being realistic enough—but has heard friends mention his accolades. The artist has had several solo shows in Asia and participated in group exhibitions and film festivals there and in Europe; the High Line in New York screened his films earlier this year. He's also at work on a new film about water lanterns in different Asian traditions, from India to Vietnam, China, and Japan.
Hypebeast
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
Ai Weiwei's ‘Zodiac Heads' Land in the Hamptons After Global Tour
Summary After traveling to more than 30 cities worldwide,Ai Weiwei's 'Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads: Gold' (2010) has returned to New York, the city where it first debuted. The celebrated sculptures are now on view atMother Nature in the Bardo, a group exhibition presented byBlackBookin Southampton through September 31. Launched at the Pulitzer Fountain in 2011, Ai Weiwei's largest iteration of the work, entitledZodiac Heads:Large Bronze, drew acclaim when they were inaugurated by then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg alongside key art figures such as Julian Schnabel and Shirin Neshat. At the time, Weiwei himself was unable to attend the debut, as he was detained by Chinese authorities just a month prior and remained without a passport for four years. The series reimagines 18th-century zodiac sculptures that once adorned a Qing dynasty fountain before being looted by French and British forces in 1860. Ai's work recontextualizes these historic artifacts, exploring ideas around cultural theft, authenticity and restitution. Alongside Ai Weiwei,Mother Nature in the Bardofeatures works by Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst and others. Launching in September, Ai Weiwei's 'Zodiac Heads (Bronze)' will be installed at Seattle's Olympic Sculpture Park led by theSeattle Art Museum. The 12 towering sculptures, reimagining looted Qing dynasty zodiac figures, will be arranged in a semi-circle at Ackerley Meadow. Mother Nature in the Bardo245 Country Road 39Southampton, NY 11968
The Guardian
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Lubaina Himid has a chance encounter and Ai Weiwei takes to the streets – the week in art
Lubaina Himid With Magda Stawarska: Another Chance EncounterAn installation exploring the letters of early 20th-century modernist Sophie Brzeska, plus new paintings by Yard, Cambridge, from 12 July to 2 November Sculpture in the CityJane and Louise Wilson and Ai Weiwei reveal new public sculptures for this summer art trail. City of London sites from 16 July until spring 2026 Emma TalbotBirth, death and everything in between are explored in this show that centres on an installation inspired by Greek tragedy. Read more here. Compton Verney, Warwickshire, until 5 October The Power of DrawingDavid Hockney, Tracey Emin and many more artists and celebs (including King Charles) celebrate the Royal Drawing School's 25th anniversary. Royal Drawing School, London, until 26 July Emma AmosThis artist who was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and trained in 1950s London, made expressive, political paintings. Alison Jacques gallery, London, until 9 August A giant mural, titled Wall of Shame, has launched in New York, to remind people of the alleged crimes committed by more than 1,500 Maga loyalists on the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, who were then pardoned by Donald Trump. Read more here. The Bayeux tapestry will return to Britain for the first time in 900 years Ed Sheeran's Jackson Pollock homage has energy but no truth Kew Gardens will host the largest outdoor exhibition of Henry Moore's sculptures Ozzy Osbourne collaborated with chimpanzees on abstract expressionist paintings Nell Stevens asked, what if every artwork you've ever seen is a fake? London's Design Museum is hosting a utopia of self-weaving grass and psychedelic dolphins Indigenous Australian artist Emily Kam Kngwarray brings a sense of wonder Sign up to Art Weekly Your weekly art world round-up, sketching out all the biggest stories, scandals and exhibitions after newsletter promotion Kourtney Roy makes tourist snapshots look sinister Artists are finding inspiration in a parlour game Saint Luke by Jacopo di Cione and Workshop, c.1365-70 The apostle Luke was the first Christian artist, it was believed in the middle ages. As well as writing a Gospel, he found time to portray the Virgin Mary from life – a story that understandably fascinated artists because it gave them an excuse to depict themselves and their craft. Is this a self-portrait of Jacopo di Cione? It doesn't seem to show Luke painting Mary – that would become a speciality of 15th-century Flemish artists who loved depicting Luke's studio in lifelike detail. Instead, here he has a book and pen. He may be writing his Gospel. But his keen gaze suggests he is drawing in ink, for sketching was a popular practice in medieval Florence where this was painted. Either way, in medieval thinking, he is not just depicting what he sees. His hand is instead guided by supernatural powers. National Gallery, London If you don't already receive our regular roundup of art and design news via email, please sign up here. If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email newsletters@
RNZ News
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Chinese documentaries expand presence at 2025 Doc Edge
Clockwise from top left: Ai Weiwei's Turandot; Made in Ethiopia; The Dating Game; Chinatown Cha-Cha Photo: Supplied Doc Edge co-founder Alex Lee says the Chinese titles in the line-up shine a light on growing diversity in the world as the festival celebrates its 20th anniversary. Lee, who is also the nonprofit festival's co-director, says he's proud his team has been able to create something that's "so special". "I'm also proud of the fact that I'm a migrant that has managed to do something special for the future and for the history of New Zealand," said Lee, who is Malaysian Chinese. Featuring documentaries from across the world covering a wide range of topics on politics, culture, history, art, the environment and more, the 2025 festival includes seven films related to China. Ai Weiwei's Turandot leads a strong line-up that also includes The Dating Game, Made in Ethiopia, Chinatown Cha-Cha, Correct Me if I'm Wrong, Little Potato and Two Travelling Aunties , with the latter three being short films. Alex Lee, co-founder and co-director of the Doc Edge Festival Photo: Supplied Lee acknowledges that some people might think documentaries are boring or irrelevant, but he believes they're important as a "slice of our life". The Dating Game , for example, depicts how Chinese men have needed to learn how to be more attractive as there are so many more men in China than women, he says. Meanwhile, Ai Weiwei's Turandot reminds people that conversation and dialogue are important even if two opposing sides disagree with each other, Lee says. "There's nothing worse than ... hearing your own voice," Lee says. "The only way that we can become a better world is if we are all able to listen to each other and we don't agree on the differences, but we learn to live with it." Lee says there has been an increase in the number of films submitted from China over the years. "There is a growth in the Chinese documentary sector, which includes not just the industry from PRC [People's Republic of China] but also from the Chinese diaspora - whether [it's] just filmmakers or content." Lee says the growth has been driven by a rise in industry upskilling and support from Chinese authorities and academic institutions. "This is often stimulated by the demand and interest about Chinese culture and issues," he says. "Additionally, with more cross-border travel, people have travelled to and worked with China," he says. "Therefore, there is also more awareness and sophistication with audience interest." Clockwise from top left: Correct Me if I'm Wrong; Little Potato; Two Travelling Aunties Photo: Supplied Lee says the festival organisers are keen to "encourage diversity in voices and content". With more people turning to social media, it is important to bring long-form content that can explore issues more deeply rather than offer snapshots that do not provide the detail and clarity required, Lee says. "Additionally, watching documentaries allows you to understand another person's point of view," he says. "It will help you to develop greater empathy for [others] and it may reshape the way you see them. "At the very least, we want the opportunity for audiences to say they have watched and listened to others. "They may not agree but they can agree to disagree - with empathy and kindness and not within an echo chamber."
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Yahoo
The 9 Most Beautiful Wineries in Napa and Sonoma
All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by Architectural Digest editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, Condé Nast may earn an affiliate commission. Photo: Courtesy of The Donum Estate Common sense says otherwise, but it's tempting to believe that the more gorgeous the winery, the more incredible the juice produced there. Of course, grapes don't know how grand or modest a vineyard they're growing in, though surely the winemakers working magic across the fields, tanks, and cellars are inspired and informed by their surroundings, both natural and built. In Northern California's Elysian wine country, mainly comprising Napa and Sonoma counties, it's easy to be wowed when pulling up to an estate surrounded by bountiful rows of vines, graceful trees filtering the sunlight, and tasting rooms that invite an immediate smile. But some properties go beyond 'wow' to the magnificent or truly sublime—think architecture by the likes of Herzog & de Meuron and Studio Other Spaces. Here, nine of the most beautiful wineries in Napa and Sonoma that each, for their own special reason, may very well leave their visitors floored—and not only because of their intoxicating varietals. Equal parts terroir-driven, single vineyard–only wine producer and monumental sculpture art collection, The Donum Estate is Sonoma's most jaw-dropping and sensorial vino mecca. There's no sip-and-go option here; instead guided tastings are immersive tours through not only the oft-awarded Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs (bearing artwork by Ai Weiwei), paired with seasonal canapés, but also the vast regenerative estate with pieces and commissions from the likes of Weiwei, Yayoi Kusama, Louise Bourgeois, El Anatsui, Jaume Plensa, Keith Haring and, added most recently, a tremendous bronze by Sanford Biggers. Visual stimulation is as much the M.O. as taste, with the hospitality center originally designed by Matt Hollis then chicly reimagined by David Thulstrup, and a prismatic microclimate-inspired conical tasting pavilion by Olafur Eliasson's and Sebastian Behmann's Studio Other Spaces. 24500 Ramal Road, Sonoma; open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; reservation required. Meaning is imbued in the very architecture of Aperture Cellars' estate, which was imagined by Juancarlos Fernandez of Signum Architecture as a deconstruction of the aperture of a camera lens—a reference to its winemaker founder Jesse Katz's father, photographer Andy Katz, who brought his son on work projects around the world. The striking vintage galvanized metal–clad building with 180-degree panoramas of vineyard and mountain has a central oculus skylight, angular rooflines, and walls that splay outward echoing lens blades, with plenty of glass but also hefty mass grounding it. The gallery-like private tasting rooms, with impressive vistas, feature the elder Katz's photography and are the place to taste the winemaking artist's latest best of the best of 300-plus lots release, Collage. 12291 Old Redwood Hwy., Healdsburg; open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday; tasting reservations by appointment 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It's impossible to miss Ashes & Diamonds, a Napa winery that's as fun and funky as anything one could find in a destination that tends to take itself rather seriously. The place is an ode to the circa-1960s California Dream, with plenty of references to midcentury modern design, paired with a Palm Springs-y vibe. Almost entirely white on the exterior, save for a few pops of saturated yellow and green, the winery's zig-zag roof and porthole windows designed by Barbara Bestor help it stand out as a playful, airy place to sip organic Bordeaux varietals made with a light-touch Burgundian approach. 4130 Howard Lane, Napa; open 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily; reservation highly recommended. This storied Calistoga wine destination looks just like what one would expect when they hear the word 'winery.' Its castle-like stone English Gothic structure dates to 1888 and is now covered in ivy for a fairytale take with significant European references. The building, on the National Register of Historic Places, once held one of Napa's largest wineries but it closed during Prohibition and, in the '50s, came under ownership who built Chinese pagodas, gardens, and excavated Jade Lake. The '70s brought new owners who hid Irish signage throughout and an illustrious bit of its history: its 1973 Chardonnay winning the famous Judgement of Paris, which was depicted in the film Bottle Shock. 1429 Tubbs Lane, Calistoga; open 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; reservations encouraged, walk-ins accepted. Stepping into House of Flowers, the charmingly named hospitality center and tasting destination for Flowers Vineyards & Winery in Healdsburg, is like entering a dream home, filled with light, texture, clean geometries, and wood both salvaged and bleached cypress. The adaptive reuse project designed by Walker Warner, with interiors by Maca Huneeus Design, brought a 13.5-acre 1970s winery into into a nature-embracing retreat for the sustainable wine label whose famous coastal Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs are unveiled as guests make their way through a series of spaces inside a graphite black inspired by the surrounding redwoods that frame the landscape. The terraced gardens, too, are aspirational, with their contemporary cabanas, native plants and pizza oven. 4035 Westside Road, Healdsburg; open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday to Monday; reservation required, with limited walk-ins allowed. The design of Artesa borders on land art, its architecture so seamlessly integrated in the earth. It was conceived by Barcelona's Domingo Triay and built in 1991 with the goal of preserving the dynamic landscape that had so inspired the Raventós Codorníu family who founded it. The visual effect of this minimalist winery burrowed so modishly into the hillside complete with a seamless 'roof' of natural grasses is unforgettable, as is the dramatic procession of steps falling down the topography, crossing pools of water along the way. Sleek as it looks outside, the interior experience pays homage to some hallmarks of Spanish handicrafts, including handprinted tiles and filigree. 1345 Henry Road, Napa; open 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Sunday; reservations encouraged. Promontory fans like Hailey Bieber, the Kardashians, and LeBron James may not only visit this Napa winery because of its design—by wine country favorites Backen & Backen—since its Cabernet Sauvignon is incredibly highly rated, but it definitely doesn't hurt. Appropriately for a vino-maker in Oakville, oak is a recurring theme. The wood is from Austria in the all-important barrel room, and a beautiful slab of a felled California oak makes an elegant first impression in the entry, drawing the eye outward toward the trellis and well-framed view, which looks like a painting. There are hardened steel beam nods to the Industrial Revolution in the gravity-flow winery, which also has a water feature that feeds a reservoir in the lower valley. 1601 Oakville Grade Road, Oakville; open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; appointment required. When it was completed in 1997, Dominus' closed-to-the-public winery became the first U.S. project of the esteemed Swiss firm Herzog & de Meuron. It was appropriately innovating: the first winery to be built with a gabion structure, using local basalt rocks to fill the galvanized cages as walls for a facade that also naturally insulates against extreme temperatures, which helps the wine age. With its low profile, the 333-foot-long, 30-foot-high monolith bleeds into its Napanook vineyard and Mayacamas mountains landscape, making it one of the most beautiful wineries in Napa. It provides a low-key yet wondrously elegant environment for winemaking by French founder and owner Christian Moueix. 2570 Napanook Road, Yountville; not open to the public. A pioneer in wine tourism, this mid-'70s classical Bordeaux chateau–inspired winery in Healdsburg's rolling green hills has consistently leveled up its own environs, which sprawl out over 1,200 acres that include lakes and olive groves. Certified sustainable, Jordan's sunny yellow home base is in the midst of a seven-year enhancement that most recently saw the new lobby bow with panels of Farrow & Ball Light Blue 22 with custom-distressed gold trim and a George V–inspired concierge desk in swirled Ponte Vecchia honed marble with a 17th-century Aubusson tapestry from Paris' Galerie Jabert. Period pieces sourced by San Francisco interior designer Maria Khouri Haidamus stun throughout, along with exquisite wall coverings and commissioned artwork—see Alice Riehl's delicate sculpted porcelain flora—that make the entire experience a total pleasure. 1474 Alexander Valley Road, Healdsburg; open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily; tastings and tours by reservation only. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
