Ai Weiwei, one of the most influential contemporary artists and activists, has brought his multidisciplinary brilliance to the Design Museum in London with Making Sense. Open until 30 July 2023, this monumental exhibition transforms ordinary objects into profound reflections on design, history, and human values.
A Takeover of Design, Architecture, and Craft Curated by Justin McGuirk, Making Sense challenges traditional boundaries between design and art. Ai Weiwei’s works—spanning decades—occupy every corner of the museum, from its atrium to its galleries, in what is described as an artistic ‘takeover’. The exhibition is a sprawling commentary on design’s evolution, its role in human survival, and the memories embedded in objects.
Through five meticulously curated ‘fields’ of collected objects, Weiwei draws attention to the often-overlooked artefacts of human craftsmanship. These fields are displayed on the gallery floor, offering an immersive, glyphic representation of history, survival, and cultural transformation.
The Five ‘Fields’ – A Codex of Design History Still Life The first field presents over 4,000 Stone Age tools, including axe heads, chisels, and knives. Laid out in ascending size and complexity, these artefacts symbolise humanity’s instinctive relationship with design, rooted in survival. This arrangement reveals the beauty and progression of early human ingenuity.
Left Right Studio Material This mournful field showcases fragments of broken porcelain sculptures, salvaged from the demolition of Ai Weiwei’s Beijing studio in 2018. These remnants of state-sponsored destruction stand as a testament to Ai’s defiance against censorship and his ability to transform loss into a statement of resilience and beauty.
Spouts the third field features over 250,000 broken porcelain spouts from Song Dynasty teapots and wine ewers, reflecting China’s thousand-year-old porcelain industry. This massive collection alludes to the perfectionism of handcrafted design and the waste left behind in the pursuit of excellence.
Porcelain Cannonballs with 200,000 porcelain cannonballs carefully arranged into a tapestry-like display, this field explores the delicate craftsmanship of porcelain and its transformation from an object of utility to an item of artistic contemplation.
Lego Blocks
The final field uses industrially produced Lego blocks to contrast the handcrafted nature of the other fields. This playful, chaotic arrangement evokes spontaneity while reflecting Ai Weiwei’s commentary on mass production and the tension between handmade and machine-made design.
Beyond the Fields – Exploring Creation and Destruction
Complementing the fields are a series of architectonic works that blend art, architecture, and activism. A standout piece is Coloured House, a timber frame from a traditional Zhejiang province home, painted in vibrant colours and propped up on crystal spheres. This work critiques modernisation’s impact on cultural heritage and conservation.
In Study of Perspective, Ai Weiwei turns his critical lens on political and cultural landmarks by flipping the finger at iconic structures such as Tiananmen Square and Westminster Palace. Through photography and videography, the exhibition also examines China’s rapid urbanisation, questioning the aesthetic sensibilities lost in the race to modernise.
Everyday Objects as Artefacts
Ai Weiwei elevates the mundane into the extraordinary, transforming ordinary objects into artefacts of memory and meaning. A worker’s hard hat cast in glass becomes a symbol of fragility and resilience, while a jade axe head sculpted into the shape of an iPhone encapsulates the exhibition’s theme: the interplay between past and present, utility and value.
Two particularly striking installations feature life jackets and children’s rucksacks. These serpentine forms represent the global refugee crisis, serving as poignant reminders of the uncertainties faced by displaced populations.
A Critical Reflection on Design and Modernity
Making Sense is as much a philosophical inquiry as it is an artistic exhibition. Ai Weiwei invites visitors to consider the layers of history, craftsmanship, and cultural memory embedded in everyday objects. As curator Justin McGuirk summarises:
“This exhibition reminds us that with innovation, we often lose certain values. It brings us back to earth, encouraging us to be alive to the moment we live in.” Plan Your Visit
Exhibition:
Ai Weiwei: Making Sense
Dates: Until 30 July 2023
Location: Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG
For those looking to delve deeper, the museum will host talks and workshops, such as On Collecting: Sense and Sensibility, featuring experts like Nusrat Ahmed and Rose LeJeune.
Don’t miss this extraordinary exhibition, where Ai Weiwei transforms the ordinary into the profound, redefining design as a lens for understanding history, humanity, and the world we inhabit.